Afghanistan : Supporting the Forum for Coordination of Energy Stakeholders

Project Name

Supporting the Forum for Coordination of Energy Stakeholders

Project Number

54208-001

Country / Economy

• Afghanistan

Project Status

Closed

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Technical Assistance

Source of Funding / Amount

TA 6576-AFG: Supporting the Forum for Coordination of Energy Stakeholders

Source	Amount
Technical Assistance Special Fund	US$ 225,000.00

Operational Priorities

• OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity

Sector / Subsector

• Energy / Electricity transmission and distribution - Energy sector development and institutional reform - Energy utility services

Gender

No gender elements

Description

The TA will recruit international and national experts to (i) propose the structure and mandate for the coordination platform in DABS, (ii) develop the standard operating procedures, (iii) prepare the terms of reference for the coordination staff, and (iv) finance the first 2 years of its operation.

The TA will provide a platform for technical discussion and dialogue among development partners and government agencies through close coordination, harmonization, and collaboration of efforts. It is envisaged that coordination will lead the sector to coherent strategic improvements and implementation of investment plans, as well as provide capacity and analytical support to strengthen energy sector investments in Afghanistan.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The energy sector experiences technical, financial, and governance deficits, and lacks integrated planning. Although significant international assistance has been channeled into project-based financing, the pace of energy sector reform and institutional capacity building has not kept pace with the improvements in physical infrastructure. While assistance is provided by ADB to restructure Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), the government-owned electricity utility, and to improve institutional, regulatory, and commercial framework in the sector, there remains a need to strengthen the overall coordination among the stakeholders.

Previously, the energy sector coordination platform, the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Energy (ICE) had been supported by ADB from 2007-2009 and 2013-2017 and by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from 2009-2012 and had produced tangible results to meet the energy sector investment needs of Afghanistan. ICE was generally useful for the coordination of stakeholders for ten years (2007-2017). However, since the MOE is not directly involved in project implementation, the sustainability plan of ICE was not followed by the MOE. More importantly, ICE was not integrated and institutionalized into the government structure (tashkeel). There is still, thus, a critical need to strengthen and sustain the effort for coordination of sector planning, implementation, monitoring, and oversight of investments into the Afghanistan energy sector by the government, development partners, and private sector. Being the leading development partner, ADB aims to ensure a high level of coordination and harmonization in the energy sector among the development partners and government entities.

The need for coordination is especially acute due to the closure of ICE TA, which used to serve as a dialogue platform between the various stakeholders. Given the importance of the energy sector to the Afghan economy and large investment portfolios of development partners, there is an urgent need to coordinate the ongoing project implementation, policy and reform dialogue, and future development activities.

To provide necessary inputs in energy sector coordination to the government and development partners, the TA will build upon (i) the recommendation of ICE for the energy sector coordination platform for technical dialogue among government agencies and development partners, and (ii) ADB's experience in the energy sector.

Impact

(i)Energy sector's institutional capacity enhanced to improve coordination of energy investment budgeting and ensure balanced regional access (Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework or ANPDF, 2017-2021).

(ii)ADB Strategy 2030's operational priority related to strengthening governance and institutional capacity enhanced.

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Improved and continued stakeholder coordination mechanism established.

Progress Toward Outcome

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

FORCES secretariat operationalized.

Coordination and information exchange among energy stakeholders increased.

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

Geographical Location

Nation-wide

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

ADB will engage 1 individual international consultant for 5 person-months on an intermittent basis and 2 individual national consultants for 36 person-months on a continuous basis. The individual consultant selection method will be required as the individuals' qualifications and experience are the paramount requirements for the specific assignments. The recruitment of individual consultants through a firm is preferred to the extent possible to ensure these consultants will be based in the EA's office. The consultants will conduct the on-the-job trainings. Regular follow-ups will be maintained by the consultants through the formulation of meeting minutes, preparation of TA quarterly status reports, and the holding of extraordinary meetings of the technical working groups. ADB will engage the consultants and carry out procurement following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff instructions.

Procurement

ADB will engage a number of individual consultants for the implementation of KSTA activities, following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated staff instructions.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

ADB Disclosure

Responsible ADB Department

Central and West Asia Department

Responsible ADB Division

Afghanistan Resident Mission (AFRM)

Timetable

Concept Clearance

-

Fact Finding

10 May 2020 to 25 Aug 2020

MRM

-

Approval

13 Oct 2020

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

13 Oct 2020

Funding

TA 6576-AFG