The ongoing economic transformation—due to digital innovation and energy transition—challenge the existing social protection and governance systems. To achieve gender equity and inclusion in AI governance and a just energy transition adequate policies have to be shaped. To achieve an inclusive society within the framework of a welfare state this transformation has to focus on supporting citizens in need of protection, empowerment and rights fulfillment. FES, together with its Partner Ministry Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture and in collaboration with its partner organisations. is dedicated to target women and youth through programs, engaging directly with these communities and develop policy recommendations to ensure meaningful social change.
Creating a gender just future is the ultimate goal. In a patriarchal society, strong focus and affirmative action for women in Indonesia remains an important task. FES supports studies, capacity-building and policy dialogue focussing on care work, the position of women in the Informal Sector and their active political participation.
Care work—both paid and unpaid—plays a pivotal role in Indonesia’s development, yet remains largely invisible and undervalued in the country’s economic and policy frameworks. In Indonesia, care work is predominantly performed by women, who bear a disproportionate share of care responsibilities, particularly in unpaid care work, such as caring for children, the elderly, and managing households. As a result, women in Indonesia spend significantly more time on care work than men, which limits their participation in the formal economy, deepens gender inequality, and contributes to persistent time poverty. FES together with the partner organization SRI Institute and in cooperation with Kemenko PMK contributes with research, policy recommendations and a national platform for dialogue towards the inclusion of women in care work into the social security system.
Integrating climate and energy considerations into Indonesia's human development agenda is essential for achieving sustainable growth, mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing the well-being of its people. As the country grapples with the challenges of climate change, energy access, and socio-economic development, addressing these interlinked issues will not only foster a more resilient economy but also promote social and health benefits. The transition to a sustainable, low-carbon energy system is both an environmental and economic necessity, creating opportunities for a prosperous, equitable future. FES activities focus on the effects on women and youth as well as their meaningful participation towards a just energy transition on local and national level.
A Collaborative Research Framework including international research cooperation and scholarship programmes is needed to drive impactful research that addresses both global and local challenges, focusing on strategic themes such as energy transition, food security and the digital economy. FES in cooperation with Katadata Insight Center and Kemenko PMK supports the creation of an Inclusive and deliberate Policy Dialogue Space among government, academia, industry, alumni of the national Scholarship Programme LPDP, and civil society, fostering transparency, accountability, and participation in the national research ecosystem reform process. The objective is to formulate strategies and implementation mechanisms in mobilizing Indonesian academic talent for designing innovative and sustainable solutions to ensure sustainability, job creation and a direct impact on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national resilience.
