Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP), in collaboration with TONIBUNG and International Rivers, will host an Inter-Learning Exchange for Just and Community-Led Energy Transitions in Sabah, Malaysia. The gathering will bring together more than 25 Indigenous leaders and grassroots community representatives from Africa and Asia to share practical knowledge, strengthen solidarity, and advocate for inclusive, rights-based renewable energy solutions.

Why does it matter? Well, throughout the world Indigenous Peoples remain largely excluded from the benefits of renewable energy transition. Millions lack access to electricity, despite living in areas rich in solar, wind, and hydro potential. National energy policies too often prioritize centralized grids and large-scale projects that bypass local needs and undermine communities’ rights.

Indigenous Peoples in Sabah have shown that a different path is possible. Through community-owned micro-hydro and hybrid solar systems, they have achieved energy sovereignty while protecting their ecosystems. This exchange will create a space for peer-to-peer learning, where participants will explore strategies for designing, owning, and managing decentralized energy systems that align with community priorities and environmental stewardship.

The four-day exchange program will offer hands-on training, site visits, and technical workshops. Key sessions will encompass Community-Led Renewable Energy Design & Principles of Just Energy Transition, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and Social Baseline Studies, Demonstrations of Pre-Feasibility Studies and Assessing Power Potential, Managing Community-Owned Energy Systems and Their Productive Uses, Funding Strategies for Renewable Energy Initiatives, Designing Solar Mini-Grids and Hybrid Energy Systems, and Advocacy and Reflections on Rights-Based Energy Policies.

Participants will also visit community-managed projects in Buayan and Walou and engage with local organizations such as PACOS Trust and CREATE Borneo. These immersive experiences aim to strengthen networks among Indigenous Peoples and grassroots organizations while identifying shared policy challenges and advocacy pathways.

This Inter-Learning Exchange is supported by Thousand Currents, PACOS Trust, Green Empowerment, and JOAS. By promoting Indigenous-led renewable energy projects, the exchange aims to support a fair and community-centered energy transition that aligns with the goals of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

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