Annual Work Plan Year 1 (Final) for USAID Laos Energy Security Activity

The program began on August 12, 2020, and will conclude on August 12, 2025. The primary implementing partner is Numark Associates, Inc. (NUMARK), with subcontractors including Crown Agents – USA (CA-USA) and Energy and Security Group (ESG). The program's objectives are threefold: improving energy planning, strengthening the energy sector's legal and regulatory framework, and enhancing the performance of the state-owned utility, Électricité du Laos (EdL). To achieve these objectives, the program will engage with various stakeholders, including the Government of Laos, development partners, and regional bodies. The program's start-up phase involved securing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Laos. This was achieved through initial direct exchanges with the Ministry of Energy and Mines, on-going engagement, and the finalization of the MOU. Parallel activities during this phase included institutional organization, planning process, knowledge and tools, and proposed pre-MOU activities. Following the MOU, the program entered the post-MOU phase, during which it will focus on implementing activities to achieve its objectives. These activities include improving energy planning, strengthening the energy sector's legal and regulatory framework, and enhancing the performance of EdL. The program will also engage in stakeholder engagement, development partner coordination, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities. The program's implementation schedule is outlined in Annex 4, which details the activities and deliverables for each objective. The schedule includes pre-MOU and post-MOU activities, as well as short-term technical assistance and grants under contract. The program's management and staffing plan, outlined in Annex 3, includes a staffing matrix, organization chart, and short-term technical assistance plan. The program's gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) plan, outlined in Annex 6, includes a schedule for GESI analysis and the development of a gender and inclusive development action plan (GIDAP). The program's activity monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan (AMELP), outlined in Annex 7, includes a schedule for AMELP and first-year monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities. The program's implementation will be monitored and evaluated through a range of indicators, including energy planning, energy sector legal and regulatory framework, and EdL performance. The program's baseline assessment, outlined in Annex 7, provides a comprehensive overview of the current energy sector in Laos, including energy demand, supply, and infrastructure. The program's research and learning agenda, outlined in Annex 7, includes a range of topics related to energy security, including energy planning, energy sector legal and regulatory framework, and EdL performance. The program's MEL training and capacity building plan, outlined in Annex 7, includes a range of activities to build the capacity of program staff and stakeholders in monitoring, evaluation, and learning. The program's grants under contract (GUC) plan, outlined in Annex 8, includes a range of activities to support the implementation of the program's objectives, including grants to support energy planning, energy sector legal and regulatory framework, and EdL performance.