Delivering the ASEAN Energy Database System (AEDS): Capacity Development Assistance Programme for Energy-data Collection and Processing

Starting in May 2020, the ASEAN Energy Database System (AEDS) improvement is currently approaching its final stages. One of the capacity development assistance programs for ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) staff is on developing internal guidelines and competencies on data processing, divided into technical and functional modules. The technical module is used for back-end operational and maintenance system such as database infrastructure, files and scripts repositories, and user management. The functional module will be used to operate the AEDS platform from energy data template customisation, data input/upload, data processing, localised visualisation, and extraction. The training concept was developed by a combined knowledge transfer and practical simulation, which is followed by a post evaluation.

To cover the different roles of the ACE staffs, the training is categorised further for more targeted segments of participants, namely: Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Data/Statistics, and the Regular user, which consists of other ACE staff members excluding ICT and Data/Statistics officers. The training for the ICT unit was held on 5 March 2021 and attended by 12 participants. Later on 12 March 2021, another training was held for Data/Statistics officers for half-day in the morning and followed by last training for the Regular user in the afternoon. While the module for Data/Statistics officers was more technical on data management, the Regular user module was more on a general understanding of the AEDS dashboard, which displays data visualisation. The training was participated by 10 participants and 18 participants, respectively. After each training was conducted, the participants’ understandings were also evaluated using the 4-scale grading multiple-choice questions.

The capacity development for energy data collection and processing is part of AGEP Phase II activities under Output B, “Improved collection and digital processing of socio-economic and energy-specific data in the ASEAN Member States (AMS).” Aside from its key focus on strengthening ACE in its role as a regional centre of excellence for sustainable energy, GIZ is also preparing a capacity development assistance programme for the AMS through statistical guidelines and energy data competencies. The capacity development activities are expected to streamline the need for efficient collaboration on energy data collection and processing. (JM)