SEMI-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT MAY 2020

DISCLAIMER This document is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of Tetra Tech, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

SEMI-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT –

MAY 2020 USAID SOUTHEAST ASIA

ENHANCING DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH

THROUGH ENERGY REGIONAL SUPPORT HUB

(USAID SOUTHEAST ASIA EDGE HUB)

DELETE THIS BLANK PAGE AFTER CREATING PDF. IT’S HERE TO MAKE FACING PAGES

AND LEFT/RIGHT PAGE NUMBERS SEQUENCE CORRECTLY IN WORD. BE CAREFUL TO

NOT DELETE THIS SECTION BREAK EITHER, UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE GENERATED A

FINAL PDF. IT WILL THROW OFF THE LEFT/RIGHT PAGE LAYOUT.

SEMI-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

USAID Southeast Asia Enhancing Development and

Growth through Energy Regional Support Hub (USAID

Southeast Asia EDGE Hub)

Submission Date: MAY 18, 2020 Contract No: GS00Q14OADU138 Task Order: 72048620N00001 Activity Start Date and End: November 19, 2019 – MAY 18, 2020

Submitted by: Mark Dunn [email protected]

3475 East Foothill Blvd, Suite 300 Pasadena, CA 91107 1320 North Courthouse Road, Suite 600 Arlington, VA 22201

This document was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Tetra Tech, Inc. (Tetra Tech) for the USAID/RDMA Southeast Asia EDGE Hub Task Order.

mailto:[email protected]

USAID Southeast Asia EDGE Hub Semi-Annual Report (November 18, 2019 – May 18, 2020)

4

Table of Contents

LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................ 5

INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................. 6

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................... 8

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ..................................................................................................... 9

PROGRESS REPORT ........................................................................................................................................... 10

ACCOMPLISHMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... 10 TECHNICAL SERVICES ............................................................................................................................................... 10 COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT ................................................................................... 12 MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING ................................................................................................................. 14 CROSS-CUTTING ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS ................................................................................................................................... 18

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS ............................................................................................................... 18 TECHNICAL SERVICES ............................................................................................................................................... 18 ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS ................................................................................................................................... 19

NEXT STEPS ....................................................................................................................................................... 19 ANNEX 1 – USAID MISSION ORDERING GUIDE ............................................................................................... 21

Figure 1: Southeast Asia EDGE Hub Results Framework ......................................................................................................... 7

Figure 2: The EDGE Hub’s Primary Support Areas .................................................................................................................. 10

Figure 3: Examples of the EDGE Hub's Service Menu ............................................................................................................. 10

Figure 4: Examples of the EDGE Hub's Catalog of Technical Services ................................................................................ 11

Figure 5: Examples of the Hub's Communications Services ................................................................................................... 12

Figure 6: Examples of Hub Products: RDMA Fact Sheet and Introductory Presentation ................................................ 13

Figure 7: Partial Catalog of the Hub's MEL Support Services ................................................................................................. 15

Figure 8: Nine Deep Dive Workshops Proposed for 2020 Asia Clean Energy Forum .................................................... 17

Figure 9: The EDGE Hub Offers a Wide Range of Remote Technical Support Services ................................................. 19


5

LIST OF ACRONYMS

ACEF – Asia Clean Energy Forum

ADB – Asian Development Bank

ALP – Asia LEDS Partnership

ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations

CLA – Collaborating, Learning and Adapting

DCCP – Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership

DFC – United States International Development Finance Corporation

DO – Development Objective

DQA – Data Quality Assessment

ECON – United States Department of State, Economics Section

EDGE – Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy

ICED – Indonesia Clean Energy Development

GIZ – Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

ICLEI – International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (now called Local

Governments for Sustainability)

IG – Inspector General

IP – Implementing Partner

IT – Information Technology

JICA – Japan International Cooperation Agency

LEDS – Low Emissions Development Strategies

MEL – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

MoE – Ministry of Energy

NREL – National Renewable Energy Laboratory

PIRS – Performance Indicator Review Sheet

RDMA – Regional Development Mission for Asia

RE – Renewable Energy

REO – Regional Environment Office

SEA – Southeast Asia

SEEK – Sharing Environment and Energy Knowledge

STTA – Short-Term Technical Assistance

TICA – Thailand International Cooperation Agency

USAID – United States Agency for International Development

USG – United States Government

USTDA – United States Trade and Development Agency

V-LEEP – Vietnam Low Emission Energy Program

VUES – Vietnam Urban Energy Security

WE4F – Water and Energy for Food


6

INTRODUCTION

In July 2018, the United States Government (USG) announced the Asia Enhancing Development

and Growth through Energy (EDGE) Initiative as a key component of the Administration’s Indo-

Pacific Vision. As a whole-of-government initiative, Asia EDGE has four strategic objectives: (i)

Strengthen the energy security of regional partners; (ii) Create open and transparent energy

markets; (iii) Improve free, fair, and reciprocal energy trading relationships; and (iv) Expand

access to affordable, reliable energy.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) implements energy

programming in Southeast Asia under the Asia EDGE Initiative. USAID plays a leading role

helping its Indo-Pacific partners expand energy access, promote energy diversification and trade,

and strengthen energy security across the region. USAID Asia EDGE’s approach focuses on

accelerating the growth of the region’s energy markets in four key areas:

1. Utility Modernization

2. Increased Deployment of Advanced Energy Systems

3. Regional Energy Trade and Integration

4. Transparent, Best Value Procurement Practices

USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) has been designated the regional

center for Southeast Asia energy programming.

To ensure harmonization of USAID programming, to enhance USAID/RDMA’s ability to

cohesively and effectively address cross-border or regional issues, and to increase effectiveness

of USAID energy programs, USAID/RDMA has created the USAID Southeast Asia EDGE Hub

(the “EDGE Hub”), based in Bangkok, Thailand. The EDGE Hub offers technical and

programmatic assistance and regional collaboration and coordination with other regional hubs,

other USAID bilateral Missions, USAID Headquarters in Washington D.C., the U.S.

Government (USG) interagency, the private sector, national government partners, and other

donors.

RDMA’s implementation of the Asia EDGE Initiative in Southeast Asia addresses its Regional

Development Cooperation Strategy (RDCS) Development Objective (DO)1: Regional

Institutions’ Ability to Promote Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Increased. It serves four sub-

purposes:

1. Increased deployment of advanced energy systems in Southeast Asia;

2. Improved performance of energy utilities in Southeast Asia;

3. Enhanced regional integration and energy trade across Southeast Asia; and

4. Increased effectiveness of USAID energy activities in Southeast Asia.

The EDGE Hub directly addresses sub-purpose 4: Increased effectiveness of USAID energy

activities in Southeast Asia. It is a central coordinating body to drive and enhance the impact of


7

Asia EDGE programs by offering support services in three key areas, delivered via RDMA

(figure 1). They include:

- Technical Support: Activities designed to expand the technical capacity of USAID

Mission programs and staff while also providing data enabling analyses of trends across

Southeast Asia that impact Asia EDGE energy programming. This technical support

includes market, sector and technology assessments, work planning support, event

planning, and facilitating engagement with private sector actors and multilateral financial

institutions.

- Communications Support: The EDGE Hub tells a cohesive story of the USAID

energy activities across Southeast Asia. It collects, synthesizes and amplifies the results

and learning from current and planned USAID energy programs in Southeast Asia. The

EDGE Hub also aggregates relevant lessons learned and best practices of these

programs and while developing new tools and methods to share them.

- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Support: The EDGE Hub offers

individual USAID energy programs in Southeast Asia MEL support to amplify the efficacy

of regional energy programming by working with USAID staff to refine the rationale for

activities, identify relevant and replicable metrics to track progress, and promote

methods of data collection that ensure consistent reporting. By providing services

across the range of USAID energy programs in Southeast Asia, the EDGE Hub serves as

a repository of the trends, best practices, and impacts of these activities.

Figure 1: Southeast Asia EDGE Hub Results Framework


8

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The EDGE Hub team spent its first months of operations laying the foundations to achieve its

mission. The Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager assembled a team of qualified

individuals to fill key positions; began connecting and coordinating with an array of United

States Government (USG) agencies, host country institutions, and U.S. and multinational energy

sector players; and created and shared essential information tools with the various USAID

stakeholders implementing energy programs under Asia EDGE across Southeast Asia.

Due to the public health crisis associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the

EDGE Hub’s debut took place almost entirely online. Effective communication platforms, strong

team spirits and flexibility enabled the EDGE Hub to pull this off successfully. Since hosting an

introductory webinar on April 2, 2020 to present its services to bilateral Missions, and

introductory calls with USAID Southeast Asia implementing partners (IPs), the EDGE Hub has

received a number of follow-on requests for communications and technical support services.

The report below features many of these requests and what action the EDGE Hub has taken

to respond, along with how they have helped to advance the Asia EDGE Initiative.

Highlights of ongoing activity include the EDGE Hub’s help in coordinating USAID participation

in the week-long Asia Clean Energy Forum, hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

virtually in June 2020. The EDGE Hub will also play a central role in hosting an upcoming Asia

EDGE Power Sector Webinar series that will feature the work and expertise of bilateral

Missions and Asia EDGE implementing partners across the region.

The EDGE Hub has accomplished a multitude of other communications and stakeholder

engagement activities to support the execution of the Asia EDGE Initiative in the region. These

include the development of an EDGE Hub fact sheet and introductory presentation; social

media stories describing some of USAID Southeast Asia EDGE programming in light of the

coronavirus pandemic, and – critically – a Communications and Outreach Plan to guide future

engagements with the broader USG audience and beyond.

Separately, through the USAID Mission, Timor-Leste requested EDGE Hub support in March

for an analysis of potential upgrades to the country’s electricity transmission and distribution

network. In April, the Philippines requested a technical and financial analysis of how COVID-19

has impacted the power sector on the island of Mindanao.

Since onboarding a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Expert in early May, the EDGE Hub has

the capacity to ensure that its outreach, coordination and MEL activities going forward will

enhance the ability of USAID Southeast Asia EDGE implementing partners and bilateral

Missions to achieve the ultimate objectives of Asia EDGE: helping partner countries to

modernize utilities; deploy advanced energy systems; implement transparent, best value

procurement practices; and advance regional trade and integration.


9

IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 presented an array of challenges to Southeast Asia

EDGE Hub operations between March 2020 and May 2020. The inability to hold in-person

meetings hindered coordination on staff onboarding and document collaboration and prevented

the EDGE Hub from implementing a roadshow to introduce the activity to the bilateral

missions in person. Adding to this challenge is that many USAID staff from around the region

have returned to the United States, resulting in significant time zone differences.

The EDGE Hub has addressed and overcome these obstacles by holding regular online

meetings and video calls using online platforms and scheduling calls/videoconferences early in

the mornings and late in the evenings to account for time differences. These frequent

collaborative efforts between the EDGE Hub and partners have enabled effective coordination

to advance the broader goals of the Asia EDGE Initiative and the more specific objectives of the

EDGE Hub.

While many governments, including Thailand’s, are reducing some restrictions on movement

and gatherings, the EDGE Hub expects remote working to continue at least part time until the

pandemic has abated significantly. The EDGE Hub is preparing a set of safety protocols

following USAID/U.S. Embassy and Tetra Tech’s corporate guidance to ensure safe working

conditions for employees in the office.

These challenges notwithstanding, the EDGE Hub made substantial progress in its first six

months and is well positioned to pursue the next set of activities to support, coordinate and

amplify USAID SEA EDGE energy programming going forward.


10

PROGRESS REPORT

The EDGE Hub’s role is to support coordination,

communications, analysis, monitoring, evaluation and learning

(MEL) and private sector engagement, to strengthen and amplify

current and planned Asia EDGE programming and other bilateral

programs in Southeast Asia, thereby contributing to the success

of the Asia EDGE Initiative (figure 2).

The EDGE Hub follows a demand-driven approach to providing

technical and programmatic support to USAID regional and

bilateral missions (figure 3).

Figure 3: Examples of the EDGE Hub's Service Menu

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

TECHNICAL SERVICES

The EDGE Hub provides technical assistance to USAID Southeast Asia energy programs to

enhance the capacity of specific Activities while developing learnings that inform the Asia EDGE

Initiative more broadly. Technical services include market, sector, and technology assessments;

Figure 2: The EDGE Hub’s

Primary Support Areas


11

connections to private sector developers, operators, and financiers; and training in new energy

sector-related technologies or trends, including distributed generation, electric vehicles, or

battery storage. The EDGE Hub also has resources to support the technical components

associated with USAID Mission workplan development and to support technical workshops

either in person or virtually (figure 4).

Figure 4: Examples of the EDGE Hub's Catalog of Technical Services

Technical

Support

• Private sector, public sector, and international financial institution engagement

• Trend and technology assessment

• Sector/market/regional assessment

• Work planning support

• Stakeholder mapping and analysis

• Technical exchanges (targeting USAID personnel and/or in-country stakeholders)

• Event planning and facilitation

• Gender analysis

To ensure that the EDGE Hub can meet the various technical requests from USAID Missions, it

is filling the two Subject Matter Expert positions with a roster of individuals, rather than two

specific individuals. This rotation allows the EDGE Hub to tailor qualified assistance to specific

requests; examples of targeted areas of expertise include but are not limited to renewable

energy, liquified natural gas, energy efficiency, energy policy and financing.

The technical requests submitted to the EDGE Hub must target one of the four key pillars of

the Asia EDGE Initiative.

Since hosting an introductory webinar to present its services to bilateral Missions and additional

introductions with USAID Southeast Asia EDGE implementing partners (IPs), the EDGE Hub

has received a number of follow-on requests for communications and technical support

services. These include the following requests for technical support:

- Timor-Leste

In late March 2020, the EDGE Hub received a request from USAID in Timor-Leste to

support an analysis of potential upgrades to the country’s electricity transmission and

distribution network. This work would be undertaken in conjunction with the ongoing

USAID work in Timor-Leste under the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity

Partnership (DCCP). The EDGE Hub will finalize a scope of work and data availability

with Timor-Leste, and if approved, the EDGE Hub’s assistance would advance the Asia

EDGE Initiative’s goal of utility modernization.

- Philippines

In late April 2020, the Mindanao Development Authority in the Philippines submitted a

request for the EDGE Hub to provide expert analysis on the impact of the COVID-19

virus on the island’s power sector. The analysis will examine how the pandemic has


12

impacted demand for power as well as financing options for Mindanao’s distribution

utilities and electric cooperatives. The EDGE Hub will also work with Mindanao

stakeholders to help develop business continuity plans to adapt to the pandemic and its

aftermath.

If time and resources permit, the study will also examine the impact of the virus on the

development of new renewable energy projects and identify policies that can help

restart projects that have stalled.

The EDGE Hub expects to complete study by the third quarter of 2020. When finalized,

the EDGE Hub’s efforts will help to advance utility modernization efforts and the

deployment of advanced energy systems through the development of renewable energy

projects.

COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACH AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

The EDGE Hub has engaged in multiple communications and outreach activities, in line with

USAID guidance, since its launch in November 2019.

Figure 5: Examples of the Hub's Communications Services

Communications

Support

• Crafting fact sheets, newsletters, success stories, presentations, talking

points, briefings

• Creating applications and/or web-based products

• Aggregating lessons learned and best practices of existing USAID energy

programs

• Training communications personnel on sector developments & trends

• Amplifying progress and results of USAID energy programs

Beyond USAID, multiple USG agencies are involved in the Asia EDGE Initiative including the

State Department, Department of Commerce, and the Trade and Development Agency

(USTDA). While the EDGE Hub is contracted to USAID/RDMA, it strives to align SEA EDGE

program activities with those undertaken by other USG agencies (figure 5). In some cases, the

EDGE Hub discovered potentially overlapping agenda and materials (such as event tracking

calendars) and began working on coordinating agenda with the various stakeholders.

To this end, the EDGE Hub initiated and maintained frequent communications with relevant

parties to ensure that the various SEA EDGE activities underway complement each other,

rather than compete.

To provide the foundation for ongoing communications work, the EDGE Hub created and the

following products to share with RDMA, bilateral Missions and IPs (figure 6):


13

- Southeast Asia EDGE Communications and Outreach Plan (Draft, Submitted May 5,

2020)

- Southeast Asia EDGE Hub Services Menu

- Southeast Asia EDGE Hub – Introductory PowerPoint Presentation

- Southeast Asia EDGE Hub Fact Sheet

- Southeast Asia EDGE Master Slide Deck with SEA Energy Sector-Related Data and

Visuals

- Third-Party Southeast Asia Energy Sector-Related Event Tracking Calendar

- An Online Platform Resource Comparison Guide to Inform Anticipated USAID- or

other IP-Hosted Online Events

Figure 6: Examples of Hub Products: RDMA Fact Sheet and Introductory Presentation

The EDGE Hub exchanged the RDMA-approved Services Menu and Introductory PowerPoint

Presentation with USAID, implementing partners, RDMA, the South Asia EDGE Hub and

bilateral Missions, in conjunction with or following online presentations to the aforementioned

parties.

To facilitate ongoing and future collaboration with the primary stakeholders, the EDGE Hub is

currently developing the following products:

- Knowledge Library: A repository of EDGE-related program information,

including success stories, best practices, visually depicted sector data, and

cohesive messaging, among other material, currently housed in the online

document sharing platform, Egnyte.

- Southeast Asia Program-Related Videos: The EDGE Hub received and is collating

a collection of short videos depicting clean energy infrastructure and interviews

with regional power generation companies (e.g. B. Grimm Power). The EDGE

Hub is also supporting the production of a video in conjunction with the award

of USAID’s Water and Energy for Food Asia EDGE Ag-Energy Prize in June

2020. In early May, the EDGE Hub began packaging the material for effective use

in future communications and outreach efforts.


14

As part of its mission to collect, synthesize and relay SEA EDGE program news in a cohesive

and inclusive manner, the EDGE Hub produced the following products in response to specific

USAID and RDMA requests.

- USAID Clean Power Asia success stories for inclusion in briefings to U.S. Congress

staff on the Indo-Pacific Vision and EDGE, submitted on February 10, 2020

- Social media content covering how USAID energy programming relates to sector

effects of COVID-19

- Southeast Asia energy sector-related, third party Webinar event tracking calendar

- Coordination with USAID and implementing partners to implement a regular series

of Southeast Asia EDGE Webinars, beginning in mid-2020. The EDGE Hub will

support this planned series by hosting the technical delivery of the webinars;

developing brief descriptions of each webinar in collaboration with the specific

presenter; and supporting the marketing efforts for the webinars

- The EDGE Hub has been participating in RDMA-REO-produced ‘Biweekly Bullets,’

when it has relevant input to share

- The EDGE Hub will also be contributing to Asia Bureau’s monthly Indo-Pacific Vision

newsletter and quarterly reporting

In its capacity as a center for SEA EDGE program outreach, the EDGE Hub is actively engaged

in supporting USAID participation in the upcoming Asia Clean Energy Forum, hosted by the

Asian Development Bank in June 2020. This engagement includes coordination with multiple

USAID offices and partners, which in turn leveraged their contacts to work with Japan

International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

(GIZ) to collaborate on presenting insights and outcomes on shared areas of interest. (See

below ‘Cross-Cutting’ section for more information.)

MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING

The EDGE Hub finalized and received USAID approval for its Monitoring, Evaluation and

Learning (MEL) Plan on April 3, 2020. The plan presents monitoring, evaluation and learning

approaches that the EDGE Hub will use during the life of Activity (figure 7). These will help the

EDGE Hub to manage and track progress against the Activity’s goal and intermediate results

and to ensure continuous learning, efficiency, and accountability throughout the Activity cycle.

Guided by the EDGE Hub’s Theory of Change and Logical Model, the set of Activity indicators

were also finalized.


15

Upon the request from USAID, the EDGE Hub reviewed and provided comments on the Asia

EDGE PIRS. The Asia EDGE PIRS consist of 15 standard foreign assistance indicators and

custom indicators for measuring goal and outcome level results.

The Hub’s Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Expert joined the team remotely in early

May 2020.

Figure 7: Partial Catalog of the Hub's MEL Support Services

MEL

Support

• Refining Theory of Change and Logic Models to align with Asia EDGE framework

• Assisting in MEL plan development, selection of indicators, identification of data sources,

and data collection methods

• Conducting baseline and data quality assessments

• Drafting statements of work for performance or impact evaluations

• Creating a suite of Asia EDGE MEL tools and templates

CROSS-CUTTING

Gender

Following the kick-off meeting with RDMA in November 2019, the EDGE Hub submitted an

Activity Gender Plan – for discussion purpose – to USAID in February 2020. The Plan outlined

the general elements that could be undertaken under the demand-driven Activity. The elements

included: a) Document review; b) Challenges to gender equity in the energy sector; c) Best

practices in the energy sector; d) Incorporating best practices into USAID work; and e)

Additional resources.

Following consultation with RDMA, on April 10, the EDGE Hub team submitted additional two

concept notes for methods of undertaking the gender-related components of the Activity. The

first concept note followed the suggested scope and guidance from RDMA, with the aim of

comprehensively addressing the relevant gaps in gender and social inclusion (including age,

ethnicity, geography, etc.) that could hinder the achievement of each Southeast Asia EDGE

program. It also sought to identify differences in the socioeconomic status of Southeast Asian

women and men that could be addressed through Asia EDGE programs. However, this method,

would require resources that exceed the amount allocated in the contract.

The EDGE Hub developed a second concept note focusing on the development of a Gender

Diagnostic Framework for use by USAID in energy programming. The Gender Diagnostic

Framework would serve as a tool that provides a practical resource for USAID staff to conduct

a project-level gender analysis and to integrate gender equality and female empowerment into

energy project design. Use of this framework would help USAID staff better understand the

formal and informal barriers to gender integration in the energy sector and design programs to

address those barriers. The EDGE Hub advised that it has the capacity to develop the

Framework as a tool for use by USAID staff in their energy planning efforts under Asia EDGE

and beyond.


16

The EDGE Hub is awaiting feedback on both concept notes and how to proceed. Following a

decision on USAID’s preferred method, the EDGE Hub will engage the Gender Expert to begin

work.

Stakeholder and Private Sector Engagement

The EDGE Hub made significant outreach and coordination efforts with a range of key

stakeholders, including government officials (both U.S. and regional), implementing partners,

multilateral institutions, and others. The EDGE Hub has both opened and expanded multiple

communications channels to facilitate information exchange via regular and frequent meetings

with stakeholders, along with routine email correspondence, social media engagement, and

other communications documents. The EDGE Hub will continue this exercise going forward to

coordinate USAID Southeast Asia energy activities and determine how they intersect with

other projects in the region and beyond.

The information below presents highlights of ongoing stakeholder engagements.

Thailand Institutions: The EDGE Hub held initial conversations with the Thai Ministry of Energy

to explain the activity and discuss ways by which the EDGE Hub might support the objectives of

the Ministry. The EDGE Hub also made initial connections with two Thai educational

institutions to determine if a collaborative partnership was viable.

USAID: The EDGE Hub has held frequent and regular calls with various USAID offices and

Missions to introduce the capabilities of the EDGE Hub and explain how it can support each

group advance the Asia EDGE objectives. In addition to an introductory webinar that was

attended by USAID representatives from four Missions in the region, the EDGE Hub team

conducted bilateral calls with representatives from the Missions in Indonesia, Laos, the

Philippines, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Engagement with at least two of these missions has

resulted in proposals for the EDGE Hub to offer technical support. In coordinating with

USAID personnel, the EDGE Hub also engaged with the Asia Bureau and Bureau for Economic

Growth, Education and Environment.

Other U.S. Government Stakeholders: Multiple USG agencies have a presence in Bangkok, Thailand,

and the EDGE Hub has successfully connected with relevant agencies to introduce its goals and

objectives. The EDGE Hub held initial meetings with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency

(USTDA), the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Department of

State (ECON), and the Department of Commerce (DoC) to understand their activities under

the Asia EDGE Initiative and how they interact with the roles and responsibilities of the EDGE

Hub.

In the leadup to the June 2020 Asia Clean Energy Form (ACEF), the EDGE Hub convened a U.S.

Government stakeholder meeting to discuss the participation at ACEF and the possibilities for

agencies to provide training sessions at this event.


17

The EDGE Hub engaged DoC as a key contact to coordinate private sector engagement and

communications activities, as it plays the central role in managing these relationships for the

broader Asia EDGE Initiative. The EDGE Hub has discussed possible collaboration on content

development toward a DoC bimonthly newsletter targeting the U.S. private sector, as well as

on an upcoming DoC-hosted Webinar series for U.S. private sector actors.

USAID Implementing Partners: To better understand the USAID energy-related footprint across

Southeast Asia, the EDGE Hub communicated with various USAID implementing partners. This

outreach provided an overview of the objectives and current status of each USAID-funded

activity and introduced the EDGE Hub’s expertise and capabilities. The EDGE Hub expects to

deepen coordination with the bilateral USAID Missions and implementing partners to ensure

that it addresses the needs of each activity and cohesively communicates their activities as

reflecting the broader Asia EDGE Initiative. The EDGE Hub is currently in active engagements

with the following activities: Vietnam Low Emission Energy Program (V-LEEP), Vietnam Urban

Energy Security (VUES), Clean Power Asia, Advanced Energy Partnership for Asia, Indonesia

Clean Energy Development (Second Phase) (ICED-II), and Water and Energy for Food.

The Southeast Asia EDGE Hub also connected with the India-based South Asia EDGE Hub to

understand their similarities and differences and determine what areas exist for collaboration

on communications, event planning, or private sector engagement.

Multilateral Institutions: In preparation for ACEF, which

is scheduled for June 15-19, 2020, the EDGE Hub has

been working with the conference organizers, notably

the Asian Development Bank, to ensure that USAID is

showcased at the event and that the Asia EDGE

Initiative and its goals are highlighted. The EDGE Hub

originally submitted proposals for nine Deep Dive

Workshops (figure 8), but ACEF 2020 has been scaled

down since it will be a virtual forum, which limits the

overall engagement of the co-organizers (including

USAID). However, USAID has secured one Deep

Dive Workshop slot, participation on a panel related

to the impacts of the coronavirus, and an address by a

senior USAID official at the opening plenary. A side

event involving representatives from multiple U.S.

Government agencies will highlight resources that can

be leveraged to promote EDGE-related activities

across Asia. A key activity associated with this side

event will be outreach to the private sector in the

United States and Asia and regional government

officials to encourage their participation and learn

more about the Asia EDGE goals and objectives.

The EDGE Hub held an introductory call on May 13, 2020, with the India-based Asia LEDS

Partnership (ALP), one of four regional platforms of the Low Emissions Development Strategies

• Distributed Energy Resources and the

Sustainable Energy Transition in Asia

• Planning for Resilient Energy Systems in Asia

• Women in Leadership: A Critical Component

of a Sustainable Energy Sector

• Cross-border Power Trade and Future Power

Markets in South and Southeast Asia:

Building Blocks

• Enhancing Efficient and Smart Cooling

Market in Asia

• Electric Vehicle Deployment: Holistic View of

Challenges and Solutions

• Leveling the Energy Investment Playing Field:

High-Quality, Open Data for Bankable

Analyses and Transformational Decisions

• Innovation, Integration, Flexibility and Energy

Storage: Key Enablers to 100% Clean and

Just Energy Transition

• U.S. Government Resources to Support

Project Preparation, Financing, and

Implementation

Figure 8: Nine Deep Dive Workshops Proposed for 2020 Asia Clean Energy Forum


18

(LEDS) Global Partnership, and its Secretariat, the International Council for Local

Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). The parties discussed potential areas of coordination in

knowledge sharing and networking. On the technical side, ALP national partners can approach

USAID Missions in their respective countries to highlight energy sector issues to be resolved

and determine if they are in line with the Asia EDGE objectives of utility modernization;

increased use of advanced energy systems; transparent, open procurement; and regional energy

trade and integration. The EDGE Hub may be able to support these technical requests with

approval from RDMA. ALP will serve as a partner to share information with its members about

upcoming Asia EDGE activities, including the Asia EDGE Webinar series.

ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS

In December 2019, the Southeast Asia EDGE Hub team moved into a fully operating office

space, collocated with another Tetra Tech project, which allowed work to begin quickly. As of

May 2020, the Hub team signed a new lease with the building’s owner, ensuring the ability to

remain in one location for the duration of the project. As the impacts of the COVID-19 virus

abate, the staff will return to the office and work onsite.

The first six months of the activity involved significant focus on hiring personnel to meet the

requirements of USAID. At the same time, in response to a USAID request for additional staff

resources, the EDGE Hub developed and submitted a budget realignment that was approved

and modified on March 25, 2020.

The EDGE Hub team engaged a local law firm to provide guidance on the structure of local

contracts, confirmation of local benefits, and taxation, which has been applied for all local staff.

To coordinate communications with its primary partners, the EDGE Hub is using the Egnyte file

sharing platform. Specific EDGE Hub and USAID staff can use Egnyte to share documents and

work collaboratively. Access to this file is restricted to key personnel from USAID and the

EDGE Hub but can be expanded as necessary and as events warrant.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

TECHNICAL SERVICES

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, technical teams have been unable travel to and meet

with key personnel at each site. The teams instead must rely on remote data collection and

analysis, and data collection is limited to what individuals/officials can access virtually if they are

unable to work from their offices.

To overcome this obstacle, the Southeast Asia EDGE Hub team is connecting to stakeholders

by teleconference and videoconference to discuss what is needed and how it may be obtained.

The EDGE Hub also developed an illustrative remote service menu detailing how collaboration

with RDMA and the bilateral Missions can continue (figure 9).


19

Figure 9: The EDGE Hub Offers a Wide Range of Remote Technical Support Services

ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS

As the number of requests from the EDGE Hub, it is imperative that the EDGE Hub is fully

staffed. As of May 18, 2020, the EDGE Hub team includes four full-time staff and six short-term

technical assistance (STTA) individuals, in addition to a pool of subject matter experts

representing Tetra Tech staff as well as local independent consultants. Recruitment within

Thailand and the United States is ongoing for the remaining two full-time staff, one STTA

position, and consultants to add to the pool of experts.

The EDGE Hub’s Senior Communications Specialist onboarded on March 30, 2020 and has

been working to develop various communications tools, including the Communications and

Outreach Plan for the next six months. The EDGE Hub anticipated a second Communications

Specialist to join at the beginning of May, but this has been delayed as the candidate rescinded

her acceptance. The EDGE Hub is interviewing additional candidates for the Communications

Specialist role and expects to fill the team imminently.

As requests for communications assistance from the EDGE Hub and stakeholder engagement

accelerate, there is an increasing need to be fully staffed to meet the needs of USAID/RDMA

and the bilateral Missions. Until the remaining EDGE Hub team members have been identified

and can come on board, the EDGE Hub is utilizing, on an ad hoc basis, a Tetra Tech

Communications Manager with experience working on the USAID Power Africa project to

support communications work. Any additional workload is being distributed between the

existing team members to ensure all requirements and requests are met.

NEXT STEPS


20

Technical Services

• The EDGE Hub team aims to embark on a road show to the bilateral Missions

when COVID-related travel restrictions are lifted.

• The EDGE Hub will continue to identify resources that can be made available to

support all types of requests coming from the Mission.

• The EDGE Hub is also working to expand its roster of qualified individuals to

offer technical support.

Communications

Outreach and

Knowledge

Management

• The EDGE Hub will support USAID participation at ACEF and develop and

disseminate post-conference materials to relevant stakeholders.

• The EDGE Hub will collaborate and host a series of Asia EDGE Webinars

showcasing Southeast Asia energy programming in the second half of 2020.

• The EDGE Hub will continue to communicate regularly with bilateral Missions

and IPs, including Vietnam-Low Emissions Energy Program (V-LEEP), Vietnam

Urban Energy Security (VUES) Indonesia Clean Energy Development (ICED-II),

and Sharing Environment and Energy Knowledge (SEEK) to develop collaborative

communications products to serve the broader Asia EDGE Initiative.

Monitoring, Evaluation

and Learning Services • The MEL Expert will develop and submit for USAID approval monitoring systems

and tools that reflect a performance-based monitoring approach. Baseline data

and annual target figures for the Activity will be determined after finalizing the

monitoring systems and tools in June 2020.

• The MEL Expert will prepare and conduct an internal data review of the Asia

EDGE performance data linked to the Activity’s Results Framework ahead of the

next semi-annual report. This Data Quality Assessment (DQA) will ensure all

performance data collected and reported to USAID meet data quality standards

for validity, integrity, precision, reliability, timeliness, among other criteria.

Cross-Cutting

• The EDGE Hub will conduct and deliver a mapping exercise outlining the USG

tools available to support energy sector development in Southeast Asia and the

specific ongoing and planned activities in each market.

• The EDGE Hub will host and market the planned Asia EDGE Power Sector

Webinar series to highlight the ongoing activities and tools developed through

Asia EDGE programming by USAID implementing partners in Southeast Asia.

• The EDGE Hub will plan a CLA event in the fourth quarter of 2020. Pending

travel restrictions, this event will either take place virtually or in Bangkok and

focus on knowledge sharing and lessons learned associated with energy

programming in Southeast Asia. The event will also help highlight a way forward

for future USAID energy related activities.

• The EDGE Hub began outreach to the Thai Ministry of Energy and local

educational institutions to identify a suitable local counterpart organization. Initial

conversations with the Ministry of Energy were promising, but discussions were

paused as the Royal Thai Government focuses on the coronavirus response. As

the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic abates, the EDGE Hub and USAID will

re-engage the Ministry to discuss future collaboration and cooperation.

Administrative

Operations

• The EDGE Hub is finalizing its staffing resources and aims to have a complete

staff by the end of June 2020. Active solicitations are posted on job boards in

both the United States and in Thailand, allowing for a wider range of visibility by

candidates. When coronavirus-related flight restrictions are lifted, the EDGE

Hub will mobilize its MEL expert to relocate to Bangkok and begin work on-site.


21

ANNEX 1 – USAID MISSION ORDERING GUIDE


22

Documents

SEMI-ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT MAY 2020