OSCE Regional Task Force on Education for Just and Inclusive Energy Transition in Central Asia (RTEET)

The OSCE RTEET Initiative addresses the growing need for a skilled and inclusive workforce in the renewable energy (RE) sector by focusing on strengthening education programmes, skills development and cross-sector collaboration in Central Asia.

Background

Central Asia possesses significant untapped potential for renewable energy development and the countries have set ambitious targets to drive their energy transitions. An analysis by the OSCE has highlighted the significant job-creation potential of renewable energy in Central Asia, projecting that nearly 100,000 new jobs could be created by 2050.

However, the educational infrastructure to support this transition is lagging. Only a few educational institutions offer degrees or specialized programs focused on renewable energy. As a result, there is a growing skills gap that hinders the region's ability to capitalize on its renewable energy potential and foster economic growth.

The energy transition also offers an opportunity to advance gender equality by promoting the inclusion of women in the energy sector, especially in leadership roles. To ensure an equitable and successful energy transition, educational programs and initiatives need to be designed with an inclusive perspective, empowering women to pursue technical degrees in clean energy and contribute to the research, development, and innovation of energy technologies.

The OSCE RTEET Initiative addresses the growing need for a skilled and inclusive workforce in the renewable energy (RE) sector by focusing on strengthening education programmes, skills development and cross-sector collaboration in Central Asia.

Main Objective

The main objective of the RTEET is to serve as a regional platform for co-operation between educational institutions, ministries of energy and education, energy enterprises, and other key stakeholders in Central Asia to develop and strengthen renewable energy education programmes in technical universities in Central Asia, in order to create a future-oriented and gender-inclusive workforce in support of an inclusive energy transition in the region.

Activities

• Regional Needs Assessment – a comprehensive analysis of skills needs and existing education and training programmes in the renewable energy sector in five Central Asian countries. The study will identify skills gaps, institutional capacities and areas for curriculum development.
• Stakeholder engagement and national consultations – active participation of ministries, educational institutions, the private sector and development partners through interviews, consultations and workshops to ensure inclusiveness and relevance of the project activities.
• Establishment of the RTEET Task Force – formation of a multi-stakeholder platform for knowledge sharing, coordination of efforts and support for sustainable cooperation between the education and energy sectors at the national and regional levels.
• Curriculum development and educational innovations – design of pilot curricula on renewable energy aligned with national standards and labour market requirements, followed by testing in selected academic and technical institutions.
• Promoting inclusive and gender-transformative education – integrating the principles of gender equality and youth participation as cross-cutting themes, ensuring that educational opportunities are accessible and relevant to women and underrepresented groups.
• Communication, visibility and knowledge sharing – Develop information materials, organize a regional kick-off meeting and disseminate results and lessons learned to increase project visibility and encourage scaling up of successful practices.

The RTEET Initiative runs from March 2025 until May 2026.

The initiative is implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in partnership with the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) within the framework of the OSCE project “Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Energy Sector in Central Asia”. The project is implemented with the financial support of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Poland.

Resources, materials and updates will be regularly posted here.