Management response to the sector-wide evaluation of the Energy Policy and Program 2009-2019 submitted

On 20 August, the Independent Evaluation Department received Management Response to its evaluation of the Energy Policy and Program 2009-2019. The sector-wide evaluation report was discussed by the Board’s Development Effectiveness Committee on 27 August and has since been made public online.

Management finds the evaluation timely and is of the same view that the policy needs to be aligned with the global consensus on climate change, the ongoing global transformation of the energy sector, and the operational priorities in ADB’s Strategy 2030. It also responded to each of the five recommendations of the evaluation.

On the first recommendation, Management agrees to revisit and update the policy to align energy sector direction and strategy with Strategy 2030, the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The review and update particularly of the role of fossil fuels and whether ADB will formally withdraw from financing coal-fired power and heat generation, Management says will require stakeholder consultations across the region, developing member countries, and other sectors. There will be several factors that will be considered particularly balancing between the twin goals of meeting the demand for an affordable, secure and stable energy supply; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Management also emphasizes in its response that the energy sector has already been doing in various stages of depth and range the action points being raised in other recommendations cited in the evaluation. One ADB is alive in the sector through the collaboration between sovereign and nonsovereign operations, regional departments, knowledge and operations departments, thematic and sectoral groups. Management recognizes that living One ADB culture is an ongoing effort that which the energy sector will sustain and further engender.

High-level policy engagement with DMCs and demand-side energy efficiency are integral pillars of the current policy. Where there are gaps, Management in its response says, it will carefully assess and address each of the DMC’s needs and priorities.

On knowledge creation and dissemination, innovation, sustaining efforts to improve quality at entry, the energy sector has employed various forms and approaches from the high-profile flagship knowledge platform such as the Asia Clean Energy Forum to publishing the advance technology handbook series. Management responds that energy sector will continue to enhance cutting-edge knowledge creation and dissemination as well as systematic capture of evolving best practices.