Gender Mainstreaming in the Development of Dieng and Patuha Geothermal Field, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia ranks 116th out of 189 countries on the 2018 Gender Development Index (GDI). Nationally, female development still lags behind compared to men. From 2010, the development of men has a "high" status with a Human Development Index (HDI) above 70 while the development of women is still in the range of the 60s and has a "moderate" status. This is what causes Indonesia`s GDI to still be below 100 over the period 2010-2017.
In Indonesia, the female position in many categories (representation, employment, etc.) is lower compared to that of men. The development of a geothermal project provides hope and opportunity for the communities in the project area, including female groups/villagers. In developing geothermal projects in Patuha (West Java) and Dieng (Central Java), Indonesia, PT Geo Dipa Energi conducted a gender assessment. Low participation of women in public consultations was found, as well as poor access to various job opportunities in geothermal projects.
In addition, based on available data, there are still gaps in employment opportunities between men and women in geothermal projects in both regions. One of the main causes is the local norms that lead women to carry multiple responsibilities in domestic and public spheres, thereby reducing the capacity of women to access various opportunities from the project.
This paper presents challenges and opportunities in mainstreaming gender at a geothermal project in Indonesia, in particular during the preparation period in which the gender assessment was being conducted. The series of public consultations and women’s group discussions indicated that geothermal project development should consider the impact on women and other vulnerable groups. The project developer should clearly state the opportunities for female participation in project implementation, as part of the company’s commitment towards improving the local socioeconomic standards.