THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARADOX

The report argues that technical assistance (TA) from the World Bank Group (WBG) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) creates a 'paradox' by facilitating fossil gas dependency while the institutions claim to align with the Paris Agreement. Between 2016 and August 2023, the WBG allocated nearly $200 million in TA for gas-related sectors across 14 countries, while the ADB committed nearly $11 million from 2016 to 2021. The authors contend that TA has a disproportionate impact on national energy strategies, often locking countries into carbon-intensive infrastructure and creating stranded asset risks. Case studies in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan illustrate how TA has been used to prepare LNG projects or gas storage systems rather than accelerating renewable energy transitions. The report recommends that all energy-sector TA be approved at the Board level and redirected toward enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and renewable energy infrastructure.

• The World Bank Group (WBG) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) maintain a paradox by continuing to provide technical assistance for gas-related projects, which serves as a loophole for further fossil gas financing despite announced restrictions on upstream investments.
• Between 2016 and August 2023, the WBG allocated approximately $199.03 million in technical assistance to 14 countries, primarily focusing on gas extraction, supply, governance, and decision-making.
• The ADB's technical assistance for the gas sector increased significantly after the Paris Agreement, with commitments of nearly $11 million between 2016 and 2021, more than double the $4.5 million provided from 2010 to 2015.
• Technical assistance is critical because it shapes a country's strategic energy direction and policy, potentially granting a 'new social licence' to fossil fuels and stimulating long-term demand for gas.
• In Bangladesh, ADB technical assistance has supported gas projects despite significant electricity overcapacity, with $2.4 million directed to gas TA since the Paris Agreement, including support for the Khulna 800 MW LNG-Based Power Plant.
• In Vietnam, the WBG and IFC have supported the expansion of LNG imports through technical assistance, including the 'Vietnam Roadmap for Gas Market Development' extending to 2035, which the report argues locks the country into a carbon-intensive system.
• In Pakistan, the ADB provided $600,000 in 2021 for 'Gas Storage Development Systems' technical assistance, which the report claims missed an opportunity to promote solar and wind energy despite Pakistan's high solar potential.
• There is a significant lack of transparency and public consultation regarding technical assistance projects, with critical documents like safeguard reports and evaluations often missing from public records.

APA

Prasetiyo, A. (2023). THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARADOX. Trend Asia. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Technical-Assistance-for-Gas-Paper-1.pdf

Chicago

Prasetiyo, Andri. THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARADOX. Trend Asia, 2023. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Technical-Assistance-for-Gas-Paper-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Prasetiyo |first1=Andri |title=THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARADOX |publisher=Trend Asia |date=November 2023 |url=https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Technical-Assistance-for-Gas-Paper-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{prasetiyo2023technical, author = {Prasetiyo, Andri}, title = {{THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARADOX}}, institution = {Trend Asia}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Technical-Assistance-for-Gas-Paper-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }