Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) is a think tank that intensively promotes the acceleration of low-carbon energy transition in Indonesia through data-based and evidence-based policy advocacy. For more than 17 years, IESR has contributed significantly to building discourse and ecosystem of energy transition in Indonesia, as well as collaborating with central and local governments, associations, and civil society organizations to strengthen the use of clean energy.

Energy transition in Indonesia is not only a national technology and policy issue, but also a social transformation that is taking place at the local level. Amidst Indonesia’s increasing commitment to achieve net zero emissions (NZE) by 2060 or sooner, the role of regions is becoming increasingly important: both as locations for renewable energy development, as centers for community initiatives, and as spaces for dialogue that bring together various development interests.

However, public literacy regarding energy transition is still uneven. Many local communities and stakeholders have not had sufficient space to understand, engage, or even voice their views in the energy transition process. To address this gap, since 2022 IESR has been running the Energy Exploration program, an educational and communicative initiative that explores various provinces in Indonesia to strengthen the narrative of renewable energy utilization at the grassroots and community-based levels (bottom-up energy transition).

As of May 2025, Energy Exploration has been implemented in five provinces: Central Java, West Java, South Sumatra, East Kalimantan, and Bali, involving local governments, journalists (national and local), educational institutions (lecturers and students), and renewable energy observer communities. In each region, Energy Exploration presents a unique approach: tracing the energy footprint in the field, engaging in dialogue with local governments and local communities, documenting good practices and real challenges in the field, and voicing local stories to the public through mass media and social media.

As a result, Energy Exploration is not only a place to share knowledge, but also functions as a catalyst. Several regions have shown increased interest and understanding of renewable energy, the emergence of new policy discourses, and the formation of local networks to support the strengthening of clean energy. The program has also succeeded in attracting wider media and public attention, enriching energy discourse at the local and national levels.

However, to date, there has been no systematic study that records and analyzes the real impacts of Energy Exploration in a comprehensive manner, both on media coverage, stakeholder perceptions, and local changes triggered by the program. This documentation is important not only for IESR’s internal evaluation as an organization, but also to strengthen its strategic approach to public communication, energy education, and multi-stakeholder engagement in the future.

Through this RFP, IESR invites consultants or independent analyst teams to compile an impact analysis of Energy Exploration, with the hope of capturing the footprint, replication of initiatives, and potential transformations that have (and can continue to) be generated by the program in various provinces.

Objective

1. Assess the media and public communication impact of the Energy Expedition in each province, including analysis of media coverage and public response.
2. Evaluate the impact of the activity on local stakeholders, including changes in perceptions, networks, and potential for collaboration.
3. Analyze direct and indirect impacts on the sites visited, such as follow-up initiatives, policy adoption, or strengthening local capacity.
4. Develop a cross-regional narrative that illustrates subnational dynamics and contributions to the energy transition agenda.
5. Provide strategic recommendations for developing the next Energy Expedition method (or other activities with similar objectives) as an approach to energy advocacy and communication..