Empowering Central Asian Women in Energy: Highlights from the 2026 GWNET-OSCE Vienna Study Tour 

Learning, exchange and lots of inspiration. This sums up the GWNET-OSCE study tour in Vienna in April 2026, which was attended by 17 outstanding women energy professionals from Central Asia. 

The participants work in diverse roles across the energy sector and represent 5 countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,  Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. They are all mentees in the Empowering Central Asian Women in Renewable Energy Mentoring Program, which is run by GWNET and the OSCE. Now in its third edition, the initiative supports women to advance their careers in the energy transition through mentorship, skills-based workshops and networking opportunities. 

The four-day study tour offered an engaging programme combining technical site visits, high-level conference visits, and professional development opportunities. Highlights included:
• A female leadership workshop led by Maren Wölfl
• Participation in an OSCE high-level breakfast meeting
• Joining the Gender & Energy Compact Dialogue at the Vienna International Centre, followed by a guided tour of the UN headquarters
• Attending the International Vienna Energy and Climate Forum at the Hofburg Palace
• Technical site visits to key energy and innovation hubs, including ANDRITZ Hydropower, the Simmering Power Station, and the Roots Energy Living Lab 

Based on the feedback received from our study tour participants, the experience appears to have delivered a range of valuable benefits. Mentees noted that the programme had helped expand their professional networks as well as offered a unique opportunity to connect and exchange with their peers. In addition, being able to view energy sites for themselves and directly engage with stakeholders provided hands-on learning experiences. Hence, Assel Uskenbayeva, a participant from Kazakhstan, described the study tour as “a space where sustainable development moves beyond a concept and becomes practice – through dialogue with international experts, visits to advanced energy facilities, and discussions on the role of women in transforming the energy sector.” Some mentees also shared that their stay in Vienna had renewed their enthusiasm in working in energy, inspiring them to pursue more ambitious career goals and contribute gender-just energy transitions. As Nurkyz Sarnogoeva from Krygzstan expressed, it “motivated me to further contribute to sustainable energy development in my country.” 

We wish to thank the OSCE for their support in co-organising this special programme. GWNET also thanks all speakers, participants and partners who contributed to making this week such a meaningful and impactful experience. 

To learn more about the Empowering Central Asian Women in Renewable Energy mentoring programme, see here.