The USAID CASA-1000 Secretariat Project – Quarterly Performance Report

Once implemented, the $1.2 billion CASA-1000 project will bring 1300 MW from TJ and KR to AF and PK, transmitting 4.6 billion kWh/year. The project has four stages: development, procurement, implementation, and operations. The CASA-1000 project officially entered the construction phase on September 21, 2018. The USAID CASA-1000 Secretariat Project (the "Project" or the "Secretariat") provides effective coordination and communications between all project stakeholders and facilitates the work of the Joint Working Group (JWG) and committees on behalf of the Inter-Governmental Council (IGC). To support all phases of CASA-1000, several coordinating and decision-making bodies have been established, including an IGC, a JWG, and working level committees and subcommittees. The Project started on January 2, 2020, and it supports the CASA-1000 IGC to successfully complete the CASA-1000 project. The main outcomes for the Project are to provide support for CASA-1000 counterparts, organize meetings of IGC, JWG, committees, and subcommittees, provide timely assistance to CASA-1000 member countries to resolve construction-related disputes, maintain, track, and archive IGC and JWG resolutions, protocols, and minutes of committees' meetings, and manage and maintain effective communications with all CASA-1000 stakeholders. Despite continuing complications associated with COVID-19, the Project followed its Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to remain fully operational. By following work-from-home protocols, the Project was able to assist the CASA-1000 project achieve the following milestones during the quarter: (1) The Project helped the CASA-1000 IGC to hold a successful videoconference meeting with the participation of all four countries, (2) The Project facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the four countries on the implementation of the CASA-1000 project, and (3) The Project assisted in the resolution of a construction-related dispute between two of the CASA-1000 member countries. The Project also made significant progress in maintaining, tracking, and archiving IGC and JWG resolutions, protocols, and minutes of committees' meetings, and in managing and maintaining effective communications with all CASA-1000 stakeholders. The Project team also took on additional tasks consistent with Project responsibilities to facilitate successful CASA-1000 project completion outcomes. The Quarterly Report for the Project covers January 1 – March 31, 2021, and presents details on major activities and achievements, two success stories, as well as progress towards milestone achievement in accordance with the Annual Work Plan and the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Plan (AMELP) indicators. The Project will continue to provide support for CASA-1000 counterparts, organize meetings of IGC, JWG, committees, and subcommittees, and manage and maintain effective communications with all CASA-1000 stakeholders to ensure the accurate and timely flow of information. The Project Implementation Units (PIUs) of the four countries have been established to manage their involvement in the project. The national transmission companies (NTCs) of the four countries have also established PIUs to manage their involvement in the project. The Project will continue to work closely with the PIUs and NTCs to ensure the successful completion of the CASA-1000 project. The Project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Project will continue to work closely with all CASA-1000 stakeholders to ensure the successful completion of the CASA-1000 project. The Project will also continue to provide support for CASA-1000 counterparts, organize meetings of IGC, JWG, committees, and subcommittees, and manage and maintain effective communications with all CASA-1000 stakeholders to ensure the accurate and timely flow of information.