Multi-Phased Approach - Accelerating Sustainable Energy Transition (MPA-ASET)

World Bank is launching a multi-year regional technical assistance program, Clean Energy and Power trade development in Southeast Asia with ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) as its Implementing Agency. The proposed program is part of the Multi-Phased Approach (MPA) program, Accelerating Sustainable Energy Transition (ASET or “Initiative”), which aims to accelerate renewable energy (RE) development in ASEAN countries including analytical support and capacity building to develop RE investments and promote regional power trade. The proposed ASET initiative is designed to be in line with World Bank’s Global Challenge Program on Energy Transition (GCP-E).

The program has three main activities: I. Regional RE policy support and climate finance – designed to provide analytical support on policy issues and capacity development required on regional level to facilitate development and financing of RE investments, II. Regional Power Trade – Building upon dialogue and experience that ACE has accumulated based on their ASEAN regional grid concept, this set of activities aim to provide additional technical support to start transboundary power trade within Southeast Asia, III. Knowledge Sharing, Consultations and Capacity Building

Related Documents

1. Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) (12 May 2025)
2. Stakeholder Engagement Framework (SEF) (12 May 2025)
3. Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) (13 May 2024)
4. Stakeholder Engagement Framework (SEF) (29 Feb 2024)

The Regional Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) Study

(CONSULTATION DRAFT)

Background

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), with support from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group under the Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach on Accelerating Sustainable Energy Transition (MPA ASET), is undertaking a Regional Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) Study covering seven Programme Areas under the MPA ASET technical assistance programme. The SESA is intended to systematically identify and assess potential environmental and social risks, impacts, and opportunities associated with these Programme Areas, while also reviewing relevant institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks across ASEAN Member States.

The Study is designed to support stronger governance, coordination, capacity, and decision-making in the management of environmental and social considerations. It places particular emphasis on areas where environmental and social risks may be more significant, including activities related to the ASEAN Power Grid Project Preparation Facility.

The Draft Report presents the assessment findings, gap analysis, and proposed recommendations. Its disclosure forms part of the Study’s stakeholder engagement process, providing broader access to the Draft Report and enabling relevant stakeholders to review the findings and provide feedback before the Study is finalized.

The Regional SESA Study

[DRAFT] Regional SESA Study: Vol 1 (Main Report):

20260901 VOLUME 1 FINAL DRAFT Regional SESA Study Report.pdf

[DRAFT] Regional SESA Study: Vol 2 (Annexes):

20260901 VOLUME 2 ANNEXES Regional SESA Study Report.pdf

Feedback Submission

Stakeholders are invited to review the Draft Regional SESA Study Report and provide their comments and feedback using the template below:

ACE SESA Comment Template_v1.0.xlsx

Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their comments by 11 September 2026 to the email address below:

[email protected]

Disclaimer

This Draft Regional Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) Study Report (the “Draft SESA Report”) is made available by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) solely to support stakeholder consultation and public disclosure. It is a preliminary working document, has not been finalised or adopted as the final SESA, and may be revised, including materially, following stakeholder feedback, further analysis, and the applicable review and approval processes. It should be cited and used only as a consultation draft. Any final SESA Report, once issued, will supersede this Draft SESA Report.

The findings, interpretations, recommendations, options, and proposed actions presented in the Draft SESA Report are preliminary and are provided for consideration and discussion. Unless expressly stated otherwise, they do not necessarily represent the official position of ACE, the ACE Governing Council, ASEAN, the ASEAN Secretariat, any ASEAN organ or sectoral body, any ASEAN Member State (AMS), the World Bank, or any other partner institution associated with the study.
Publication of this Draft SESA Report constitutes authorisation for consultation and disclosure only. It does not, by itself, constitute the formal approval, endorsement, acceptance, or adoption of any finding, recommendation, or proposed action by any such entity, nor does publication, by itself, commit any such entity to undertake a particular policy, project, investment, measure, or action.

The consideration, adoption, and implementation of the final SESA outcome will proceed in accordance with the applicable project instruments and the respective mandates, governance arrangements, and decision-making or approval processes of the competent entities, including any required World Bank review or no-objection. Any recommendation requiring action by an AMS remains subject to that Member State’s applicable laws, policies, procedures, and decisions. Publication of this Draft SESA Report does not prejudge any subsequent assessment, endorsement, approval, or decision.

Nothing in this Disclaimer limits, excludes, or modifies any obligation arising independently under applicable law, a financing or grant agreement, the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan, or any other binding agreement or project instrument.

Stakeholder feedback submitted through the designated consultation process will be documented, assessed, and considered in finalising the SESA Report in accordance with the applicable stakeholder engagement arrangements. Consideration of a comment does not guarantee its acceptance or incorporation. A summary of material feedback and how it was addressed will be made available as part of the Final Report.

This SESA is a regional, strategic-level assessment. It is not a project- or site-specific environmental and social impact assessment, approval, permit, or authorisation, and it does not replace any assessment, consultation, due diligence, or approval required under applicable law or relevant environmental and social standards. It should not be relied upon as the sole basis for legal, regulatory, investment, engineering, or project-level decisions.

Reasonable efforts have been made to verify the information presented in this Draft SESA Report. Nevertheless, because the Report is preliminary and may include information from third-party sources, no representation or warranty is made as to its accuracy, completeness, currency, or fitness for a particular purpose. Users should independently verify information relevant to their intended use and obtain appropriate professional advice.
The designations employed and the presentation of material, including any maps, boundaries, colours, denominations, or geographical names, do not imply any position or judgment by ACE concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or its authorities, or concerning sovereignty or the delimitation, endorsement, or acceptance of any frontier or boundary.

The consultation and disclosure of this Draft SESA Report form part of ACE’s efforts, within its mandate and applicable project obligations, to support informed decision-making, transparency, meaningful stakeholder engagement, and the appropriate consideration and management of environmental and social risks and impacts.