Regional : Support to Achieve the ASEAN Economic Community and Accelerate the Narrowing of Development Gaps by 2015

Sovereign Project | 45075-001

The proposed TA will undertake background assessments in one or two areas of infrastructure development; namely, environmentally-friendly transport and/or power connectivity, including related software, to help less developed ASEAN Member States implement the MPAC and IAI2. The proposed areas would need to be discussed and agreed with ASEC, but ASEC has expressed interest in ADB's assistance to help implement the MPAC and the IAI2. The assessments would review the readiness of the selected areas against the criteria. On the basis of these assessments, specific operational two-year rolling work plans (2013-2014) would be elaborated in the selected areas to support the implementation of the MPAC and the IAI2.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Jung, Choon Sik
    Southeast Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Regional
  • Modality
  • Sector
    • Energy
Project Name Support to Achieve the ASEAN Economic Community and Accelerate the Narrowing of Development Gaps by 2015
Project Number 45075-001
Country / Economy Regional
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Viet Nam
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 7893-REG: Support to Achieve the ASEAN Economic Community and Accelerate the Narrowing of Development Gaps by 2015
Technical Assistance Special Fund US$ 225,000.00
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change
Sector / Subsector

Energy / Energy sector development and institutional reform

Transport / Road transport (non-urban) - Urban public transport

Gender No gender elements
Description The proposed TA will undertake background assessments in one or two areas of infrastructure development; namely, environmentally-friendly transport and/or power connectivity, including related software, to help less developed ASEAN Member States implement the MPAC and IAI2. The proposed areas would need to be discussed and agreed with ASEC, but ASEC has expressed interest in ADB's assistance to help implement the MPAC and the IAI2. The assessments would review the readiness of the selected areas against the criteria. On the basis of these assessments, specific operational two-year rolling work plans (2013-2014) would be elaborated in the selected areas to support the implementation of the MPAC and the IAI2. The background assessments would focus on the current status and future plans in the selected specific areas in less developed ASEAN Member States and the sub-regional grouping of the GMS with a view to determining appropriate mapping, sequencing and, if appropriate, synergies of policies and capacity development, which would be reflected in detailed work plans. Importantly, the TA would help ensure that the work plans are well coordinated between the relevant national line Ministries in the smaller economies of ASEAN and the corresponding GMS- and ASEAN-level Working Groups to ensure the necessary mapping, required buy-in and effective implementation. Elements of the work plans would comprise key inputs into subsequent two-year rolling ADB-ASEC MoU Work Plans in the primary focus area of connectivity. The TA would also act as a test-bed for a larger follow-up TA to help elaborate and implement subsequent work plans in the same or other specified areas, which would also be included as inputs into subsequent work plans of the ADB-ASEAN MoU.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The proposed TA is in line with ADB's Regional Cooperation and Integration (RCI) Strategy (2008), Strategy 2020 (2010), the Regional Countries' Operational Business Plan (RCOBP), 2011-2013 for the GMS, and the Southeast Asia Department's (SERD) ongoing preparations for an ASEAN-Wide Regional Cooperation Strategy (RCS), 2012-2016, targeted for approval in 2012. The proposed TA is also consistent with the drafts of the new Long-Term Strategic Framework of the GMS, 2012-2022. The proposed TA is also supportive of: (i) the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint to achieve the AEC by 2015, including with respect to narrowing the development gaps in the smaller economies under the IAI2 (2009-2015); (ii) the priority projects listed in the MPAC endorsed by ASEAN Leaders in October 2010 to help accelerate progress towards the AEC; and (iii) the primary focus of the new ADB-ASEAN MoU, 2011-2015, scheduled to be signed by the ASEC Secretary General and the ADB President before end-2011. The new ADB-ASEAN MoU is specifically targeted at supporting and accelerating the regional cooperation and integration process within ASEAN with a primary focus which includes connectivity (physical and software infrastructure), and environmental sustainability.

The proposed TA would draw on and help complement ongoing or planned TAs in support of the AEC by 2015 and narrowing development gaps administered by Office of Regional Economic Integration (OREI), the Research and Sustainable Development Department (RSDD), and SERD Divisions, including SERC.

Impact

The expected impact of the TA is improved environmentally-friendly transport and/or power connectivity, including related software, in less developed ASEAN Member States to help achieve the AEC by 2015 and accelerate the narrowing of developments gaps within ASEAN.

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Design of an initial two-year rolling work plan (2013-2014) for less developed ASEAN Member States in the selected areas from among the 15 priority projects listed in the MPAC and the list of activities in the IAI2

Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Background assessments and corresponding initial two-year rolling operational work plans (2013-2014) in the selected areas in less developed ASEAN Member States.

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Implementation progress has been satisfactory. As a result of consultations with ASEAN Member States through the ASEAN Power Grid Consultative Committee (APGCC) and its Working Group , it was agreed that significant outcome could be expected by focusing the TA output on energy sector, particularly the issue of 'Harmonization of common technical standards codes or guidelines in the areas of Planning and Design, System Operation and Maintenance of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) . A sector expert has been recruited to conduct an analysis of technical standards of power transmission systems of the 10 ASEAN Member States and to provide recommendations on common technical standards or guidelines for harmonization in areas of planning and design, system operation and maintenance for ASEAN member countries to realize the benefits of APG.

An inception meeting was held on 21 February 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia to discuss the draft framework of Minimum Common Standards for Technical Harmonization as well as the data draft questionnaire for data collection with Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) and the national experts from each ASEAN Member State nominated by the HAPUA Working Group No. 2.

The 2nd workshop was held on 8-9 May 2013 in Phuket, Thailand to share the findings of the information received from each ASEAN member states and to discuss the potential guidelines for the minimum common standards for technical harmonization.

The 3rd workshop was helo on 28-29 August 2013 to seek feedback and comments to finalize the draft final Technical Harmonization Study report, which includes the recommended technical guidelines for the APG, the gap analysis report that were conducted for each ASEAN member state, and a recommended road map to prepare for the full operation of the APG.

The final Technical Harmonization Study report will be finalized and submitted to ADB and HAPUA Working Group No. 2 by 30 September 2013.

Geographical Location Regional
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services The TA will require the hiring of 4 or 5 international consultants for a total of 10 person-months to draft the background studies and elaborate the corresponding work plans, and the engagement of 4 resource persons to help conduct the coordination workshop. Due to the diverse skills required, the individual consultants and resource persons will be hired in accordance with the Guidelines on the Use of Consultants by the Asian Development Bank and its Borrowers (2010, as amended from time to time).
Responsible ADB Officer Jung, Choon Sik
Responsible ADB Department Southeast Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Energy Division, SERD
Executing Agencies
Asian Development Bank
Timetable
Concept Clearance 17 Sep 2011
Fact Finding -
MRM -
Approval 18 Oct 2011
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 10 Sep 2013

TA 7893-REG

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
18 Oct 2011 - 18 Oct 2011 31 Dec 2012 30 Nov 2013 31 Dec 2013
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
225,000.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 225,000.00 17 Jun 2022 127,276.11

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