Scholastica Gabriella Deianiera | ASEAN-German Energy Programme (AGEP) Phase II 

The internship programme in ASEAN-German Energy Programme (AGEP) shows one of many ways on how youth can be involved in supporting the sustainable development especially in the energy transition. Fortunately, I was able to actualise my personal goals in getting involved in sustainable development and provided my contribution during my internship from April to August 2021 for AGEP Phase II, a jointly implemented programme by ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It was an amazing experience to be working in an international organisation with an outstanding and professional team amidst COVID-19 in assisting the improvement of regional coordination for the promotion of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) towards sustainable energy for all ASEAN Member States.

During my internship in AGEP, I was able to enhance my analytical and research skill by supporting AGEP post-event evaluation surveys from participants’ feedback and initiating desk research for impact assessment, as well as ASEAN Member States Country Profile 2022 infographic that include energy statistics and RE and EE development in each AMS. I also assisted the communication activities for AGEP phase II by co-writing articles for AGEP activities, preparing storyboard for AGEP events video and supporting the preparation of AGEP online events. It helped me realise the importance of disseminating projects’ events and publication which hopefully also help promote and engage more people towards sustainable energy.

As a development project, AGEP has broadened my view regarding the importance of implementing gender responsiveness approach in the project to make sure everyone gets the same opportunity and benefit. Through managing gender database, I assisted in monitoring the gender equality in AGEP events by analysing the gender ratio in training, workshop, talk show, etc. The gender database also helps us identify key stakeholders from various background that had been attending our events. Furthermore, I also gained knowledge about the gender sensitivity language to avoid gender-biased and stereotypes especially in formal events, policy and even in our daily life.

As an urban and regional planning graduate, I was amazed by the efforts of each ASEAN Member States (AMS) to achieve ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025 target of 23% of renewable energy (RE) shares in total primary energy supply (TPES) by 2025 and 30 percent reduction in energy intensity by 2025 based on 2005 level. Each of AMS develop their own strategies by adopting their effort to enhance RE and EE through policies, not only to achieve their mutual targets but also to make sure the financial sustainability of the projects. Partnership collaboration in AGEP is proving my point that we must involve all stakeholders from various background such as government, private sectors, NGOs and financial institutions in order to reduce the impact of climate change. I believe this valuable internship experience in AGEP marks as a milestone to achieve my personal goals and future careers in pursuing sustainable development and combating climate change. (SGD)