CONSULTANCY FOR DEVELOPING A REGIONAL POLICY BRIEF ON GENDER RESPONSIVE ENERGY TRANSITION

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THE ORGANIZATION

Oxfam is an international confederation of 19 organizations networked together in 85 countries. As part of a global movement for change, we are working together to end world poverty and injustice. We work with thousands of partners in countries around the world and employ staff in a wide variety of posts. We work directly with communities and we seek to influence the powerful to enable the most marginalized to improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them.

THE BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The Influencing Just Energy Transition in Asia (I-JET) is a project designed to contribute to target national governments within ASEAN meeting emission targets in line with the Paris Agreement by phasing out fossil fuels in favor of scaling up sustainable Renewable Energy (RE) options, thereby ensuring access to sustainable energy for all.  The main outcomes are:-

The project aims to deliver the following outcomes:

1. Non-state actors at national and regional levels actively contribute to shifting the narrative towards a gender-responsive and socially inclusive energy transition.
2. National and regional level energy policy frameworks and finance mechanisms are gender responsive and socially inclusive.
3. Increased private and public funding for community-initiated gender and socially inclusive renewable energy initiatives.

The development of a JET-Gender Policy Brief in South East Asia aims to promote a gender-responsive and socially inclusive energy transition to align with and reinforce the implementation of recommendations from the following documents:

1. The Oxfam Guide to Feminist Influencing, the Oxfam Asia Regional Influencing Strategy 2023-2030,
2. Oxfam JET Policy Brief on Advancing JET in the ASEAN;
3. Proposed JET Policy toolkit related to gender.
4. Relevant Civil Society Organizations (CSO) regional statements related to Energy Transitions.  

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the development of the JET-Gender Policy are:

1. To undertake contextual and stakeholder analysis related to gender and Gender Equality, Disability; and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in the JET landscape in South East Asia by focusing on proposed regional platforms/mechanisms and current and potential allies.
2. To promote social justice themes and GEDSI for engaging in dialogue with relevant regional platforms and allies.
3. To use as input for the development of the Regional JET Engagement Framework in South East Asia.
4. To create an enabling environment and space for CSOs at the country and regional levels to engage with relevant regional platforms in Southeast Asia.
5. To build on and refer to existing policy recommendations that are supportive of a just energy transition that have been developed by Oxfam and CSOs
6. To incorporate and highlight findings from country-scoping studies on JET and Gender in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and in Laos PDR.

RESEARCH SCOPE, FOCUS AND METHOD

Guidance and scope for the development of the Jet-Gender Policy Brief include:

1. Principles: It is important to follow feminist and JET principles in conducting the contextual analysis and proposing policy recommendations. In addition, the policy brief should uphold GEDSI principles.
2. Geographical focus and regional influencing platforms and allies. The JET-Gender Policy brief should focus on South East Asia from a feminist and gender perspective, the JET-Gender Policy brief provides contextual analysis and recommendations to target the relevant regional platforms and allies below:
   1. the ASEAN Center for Energy (ACE) to coordinate the implementation of the ASEAN Renewable Energy and Gender Roadmap
   2. Asian Development Bank (ADB) accountability mechanism related to Energy
   3. Just Energy Transition Partnership in Southeast Asia
   4. Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) of the UNFCCC
   5. Climate Finance mechanisms in the region to support gender-based and inclusive community renewable energy and protect human rights, and
   6. ASEAN’s Plan for Action for Energy Cooperation (APEAC).

4. Themes: The JET-Gender Policy brief should provide context and gap analysis focusing on the following themes:

1. 1. Small-scale, locally-owned, locally appropriate and gender-representative energy systems
   2. Addressing individual and systemic barriers to female labor force participation in a just energy transition
   3. Ensure a human-centered and community-based energy transition that leaves no one behind
   4. Encourage the active and meaningful participation of women and marginalized people in the energy transition.

5. Country highlights and inputs: The JET-Gender Policy brief should highlight case studies and information from countries in Southeast Asia, prioritizing Laos PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

6. Methodologies: The study will use a qualitative approach. The data collection technique covers (1) a literature review of journals, articles, and policy documents and (2) in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders.

TIMELINE, MILESTONES, AND EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The Consultant should have:

• At least 5 years experience advocating on climate change issues, gender justice, natural resource justice, or energy justice in the Southeast Asia region.
• Understand policy issues and trends in the context of selected countries in the region.
• Familiar with the policy and operational contexts of the regional platforms and mechanisms related to energy transition and climate change mitigation.
• Detailed knowledge and experience of CSO work related to renewable energy in South-East Asia, including key issues, practices, and stakeholders.
• Detailed knowledge and experience of climate change mitigations in Southeast Asia, including key issues, actors, and processes.
• Understand how to operationalize JET principles, Feminist Principles, and GEDSI principles into practical policy recommendations that are relevant to the context of Southeast Asia.
• Good written and verbal communication skills and relationship-building with stakeholders.
• Recognition and credibility among CSOs in the region.

OTHER

• Required to adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women's rights
• Understanding of and commitment to adhere to equity, diversity, gender, child safety and staff health and wellbeing principles.

KEY ATTRIBUTES:

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities. 
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work. 
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible. 

ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES:

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

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