The Public Establishment for Transmission and Distribution of Electricity (PETDE)


E&S	Environmental and Social
ESCP	Environmental and Social Commitment Plan
ESF	Environmental and Social Framework
ESIA	Environmental and Social Impact Assessments
ESMP	Environmental and Social Management Plan
FP	Focal Point
GBV	Gender Based Violence
GM	Grievance Mechanism
IDA	International Development Association
MoE	Ministry of Energy
NGO	Non-Governmental Organization
PEEG	Public Establishment for ELECTRICITY GENERATION
PETDE	Public Establishment for Transmission and Distribution of Electricity
PMT	Project Management Team
RoW	Right of Way
SEA/SH	Sexual Exploitation and Abuse / Sexual Harassment
SEEP	Syria Electricity Emergency Project
SEP	Stakeholder Engagement Plan

1. Introduction/Project Description

The compounded effects of fourteen years of conflict, instability, and external shocks on Syria’s macroeconomics and growth prospects have been profound, driving sharp rises in poverty and inequality. The economy contracted dramatically between 2010 and 2024. Since 2011, the Syrian pound (SYP) has depreciated by a factor of 300, coupled with a sharp rise in extreme poverty over the last decade of conflict, from nearly nonexistent in 2009 to 25 percent of households by 2022.

The conflict led to the displacement of more than 13 million people, both internally and outside Syria. Following the recent political changes, there is a dramatic increase in the number of returnees, both internally displaced and returning refugees, particularly from Lebanon, Türkiye, and Jordan. The combined pressure of displacement and returning populations has overwhelmed critical public services such as electricity, water, and health care, all of which remain severely compromised by years of conflict.

Years of conflict have severely damaged critical electricity infrastructure as well as agricultural fields, water systems, and transport networks, which hampers economic recovery efforts. The World Bank has engaged with the new authorities to discuss their priority needs, and with development partners to coordinate support. Rehabilitating the electricity sector has emerged as a critical need, with significant scope for no-regret investments that can enable economic recovery, support the return of refugees and IDPs, and enable resumption of other services such as water services and healthcare for the population. This operation represents the first step in a planned increase in World Bank support to Syria on its path to recovery and development.

The international community is increasingly engaging with the new Syrian authorities in this context, and the proposed Syria Electricity Emergency Project (SEEP) represents the first direct World Bank support to Syria since 2010. International meetings of governments and development partners have been held to discuss Syria in Aqaba, Riyadh, Paris, and Brussels between December 2024 and March 2025, as well as a Ministerial Roundtable on Syria at the IMF/World Bank Group Spring Meetings in April 2025. These discussions have called for increasing support to address Syria’s humanitarian and development needs, along with calls for a transition process that enables inclusive development.

Syria’s T&D infrastructure suffers from high losses and needs urgent restoration and modernization. The country’s 400 kilovolt (kV) interconnections with Jordan and Türkiye—once crucial for regional electricity trade and grid stability—are currently nonoperational due to conflict-related destruction and prolonged neglect. In many areas, key substations have been either destroyed or left in disrepair, contributing to high technical losses, estimated at more than 6 percent in the transmission system and almost half of the 22 percent distribution system losses. The lack of maintenance, spare parts, and investment has compounded the deterioration, rendering much of the backbone grid unreliable and vulnerable to frequent outages. Rehabilitation of network infrastructure, especially close to the demand centers, will play a major role in reducing technical losses in the system. Restoring and modernizing the transmission network is essential not only for improving domestic power delivery, but also for increasing the share of renewable energy in the supply mix, reestablishing regional interconnectivity and energy security.

The Syria Electricity Emergency Project (SEEP) represents the World Bank's strategic initiative to address the urgent rehabilitation needs of Syria's critical electricity infrastructure, as the nation transitions from over 14 years of conflict. As an emergency operation, SEEP is dedicated to restoring essential electricity network infrastructure, with a particular focus on the rehabilitation of high voltage transmission lines and substations damaged during the war. The project design incorporates a forward-looking Technical Assistance (TA) component which will equip Ministry of Energy (MoE) to prepare and implement essential development programs and reforms in the electricity sector. While the infrastructure investments aim to address immediate infrastructure bottlenecks to enable improved electricity supply, the TA would help enhance the capacity of electricity sector institutions in Syria, by providing the fundamental analytics and capacity building. SEEP will catalyze efforts by the development community to support the long-term recovery of Syria’s electricity sector.

The Project includes the following proposed Components:

Component 1: Rehabilitation of Damaged High-Voltage Transmission Lines. The activities under Component 1 will focus on rehabilitating two critical 400 kV high-voltage interconnector transmission lines in Syria that were damaged during the conflict, restoring Syria’s regional connectivity to Jordan and Türkiye. The restored transmission lines are essential for enabling electricity imports into Syria and improving the stability of PETDE’s electricity network. Rehabilitating both lines is considered a no-regret investment that will benefit electricity consumers across Syria for several reasons, including facilitating electricity imports into Syria, connecting Syria’s electricity system back to the regional interconnection network, and contributing to improving the grid stability and reducing the frequency of the blackouts through connecting the Syrian network to stronger networks with adequate frequency control.
Component 2: Rehabilitation of Damaged High-Voltage Substations. This component focuses on rehabilitating damaged high-voltage transformer substations and providing necessary spare parts and maintenance equipment. Rehabilitating the damaged substations will benefit electricity consumers across Syria for several reasons. First, restoring the damaged substations near demand centers in the most impacted areas will enable the PETDE to optimize the power flow across its network, reduce high loading levels on existing substations that currently serve the impacted areas, reduce the technical losses and improve operational flexibility of the entire power system. As such, the quality of service for the consumers across PETDE network is expected to improve.
Component 3: Technical Assistance for Electricity Sector Development and Institutional Capacity Building. This component will provide TA to (a) inform the Government’s key electricity sector strategies, policy and regulatory reforms, and investment plans for medium to long term sustainability and (b) support the electricity sector institutional capacity to implement these strategies and reforms.
Component 4: Project Implementation Support. This component will support the PETDE in implementing the Project using international best practices. It will finance the necessary operational expenses to implement the project. Additionally, it will finance the hiring of a qualified consulting firm, through an international competitive tender process, to act as PETDE’s Owner Engineer (OE). The OE will assist PETDE’s Project Management Team (PMT) by providing essential project management, engineering, site supervision, environmental, social, health and safety, and financial management services during both the construction phase and the subsequent project closure periods.

The SEEP is being prepared under the World Bank’s Environment and Social Framework (ESF) and will be owned by the Syrian Ministry of Energy (MoE) and will be implemented by the PETDE.

2. Objective/Description of SEP

The overall objective of this Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) is to define a program for stakeholder engagement, including public information disclosure and consultation throughout the entire project cycle. The SEP outlines the ways in which PETDE will communicate with stakeholders and includes a grievance mechanism (GM) by which people can raise concerns, provide feedback, or make complaints about the project and any activities related to the project. The SEP specifically emphasizes methods to engage groups considered most vulnerable and that are at risk of being left out of project benefits.

3. Stakeholder Identification and Analysis per Project Component

3.1 Methodology

In order to meet best practice approaches, the project will apply the following principles for stakeholder engagement:

Openness and life-cycle approach: Public consultations for the projectwill be arranged during the whole life cycle, carried out in an open manner, free of external manipulation, interference, coercion, or intimidation.
Informed participation and feedback: Information will be provided to and widely distributed among all stakeholders in an appropriate format; opportunities are provided for communicating stakeholder feedback, and for analyzing and addressing comments and concerns.
Inclusiveness and sensitivity: Stakeholder identification is undertaken to support better communications and build effective relationships. The participation process for the projects is inclusive. All stakeholders at all times are encouraged to be involved in the consultation process. Equal access to information is provided to all stakeholders. Sensitivity to stakeholders’ needs is the key principle underlying the selection of engagement methods. Special attention is given to vulnerable groups that may be at risk of being left out of project benefits, particularly women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, displaced persons, and migrant workers and communities, and the cultural sensitivities of diverse ethnic groups.
Flexibility: If social distancing, cultural context (for example, particular gender dynamics), or governance factors (for example, high risk of retaliation) inhibits traditional forms of face-to-face engagement, the methodology should adapt to other forms of engagement, including various forms of internet- or phone-based communication.

For the SEEP Project, the concerned stakeholders have been identified and analyzed to the extent possible at this stage. These stakeholders include affected parties (as defined in section 3.2), other interested parties (as defined in section 3.3) and disadvantaged/vulnerable individuals or groups (as defined in section 3.4).

3.2. Affected Parties

Affected Parties include those likely to be affected by the Project because of actual impacts or potential risks to their physical environment, health, security, cultural practices, well-being, or livelihoods. These stakeholders may include individuals or groups who are impacted or likely to be impacted directly or indirectly (actually or potentially), positively or adversely by the Project and/or have been identified as most susceptible to change associated with the project, and who need to be closely engaged in identifying impacts and their significance, as well as in decision-making on mitigation and management measures.

The values, perceptions, concerns of the stakeholders, their power to direct, support or adversely affect the Project activities and services, the possibility of being affected by these activities and services and the degree of this impact and the level of interest of the stakeholder in the Project have been assessed at this stage. Table 1 below presents a preliminary identified list of affected parties based on the desktop study and the consultations.

It is to be noted that the Public Establishment for Transmission and Distribution of Electricity (PETDE) are implementing entity responsible for owning and executing the Project. As such, they will lead stakeholder engagement activities and ensure that environmental and social impacts are effectively managed and minimized throughout the project lifecycle.

Table 2: A Preliminary Identified List of Affected Parties/Project Affected People (PAPs)

Stakeholders Group	Role in Project	Main Interest/concerns/ needs in the Project	Internal/External
People affected by land use aspects	May be subject to land acquisition or resettlement	Possibly affected by land use (temporary/permanent) - People losing assets and/or private land and/or access to common resources and assets due to project’s land requirements. These might include people that have encroached into the project’s right of way (ROW) and lands, and that might need to be relocated and compensated.	External
People residing in the project areas	Local residents potentially impacted by construction	People living along the transmission line route, the access tracks and in the vicinity of the proposed substations - Likely to be affected by disturbances caused by the Project’s heavy vehicles traffic, construction impacts, etc., but may also benefit from project-related employment opportunities	External
Residents of governorates and governorates who are benefiting from restored electricity access	Direct Beneficiaries	Benefit from improved electricity supply and related public services (e.g., health, education, water). Expected improvement in quality of life and service reliability	External
IDPs and refugee returnees from neighboring countries	Direct Beneficiaries/ Vulnerable Group	Expected to benefit from improved electricity supply and enhanced quality of life, which may encourage and support their return to original areas of residence	External

3.3. Other Interested Parties

Other Interested Parties refers to individuals, groups, or organizations with an interest in the Project, which may be because of the project location, its characteristics, its impacts, or matters related to public interest. For example, these parties may include regulators, government officials, the private sector, the scientific community, academics, unions, women’s organizations, civil society organizations, and cultural groups. These stakeholders may not experience direct impacts from the project but consider or perceive their interests as being affected by the project and/or who could affect the project and the process of its implementation in some way.

The values, perceptions, concerns of the stakeholders, their power to direct, support or adversely affect the Project activities and services, the possibility of being affected by these activities and services and the degree of this impact and the level of interest of the stakeholder in the Project have been assessed at this stage. The Table below presents a preliminary identified list of other interested parties based on the desktop study and the consultations.

Table 3: A Preliminary Identified List of Other Interested Parties

Stakeholders	Role in Project	Main interests/concerns/ needs in the Project	Internal/External
Ministry of Energy, Public Establishment for Electricity Generation (PEEG), Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Social and Labor Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Defense, Civil Defense Authority, Ministry of Interior.	Oversee environmental compliance, legal support, international cooperation, public health, agricultural impact, communication infrastructure, labor practices, tourism, cultural heritage, displaced persons, infrastructure development, transportation logistics, security, demining and ERW, and economic development	Ensuring their mandate and requirements are being implemented and adhered to Regulatory	External
Environment Directorates in Governorates where the project will be implemented	Environmental monitoring, planning and operation, coordination and compliance	Ensuring environmental and social requirements are being implemented and adhered to	External
Municipals Councils/ Municipalities/Mayors	Coordination and facilitation of project activities, ensuring compliance with local regulations.	Effective implementation of the project at the local level, minimizing disruption to communities	External
Community leaders	Act as liaisons between the project team and local populations	Local leaders and representatives of the residents, facilitating communication between the project team and the community	External
Farmers Union	Represent the farmers and act as liaisons with the project team	Farmers’ requirements and needs	External
General Federation of Trade Unions	Represent labor interests in the project	Ensuring fair labor practices, worker safety, and inclusion	External
Local and private companies, such as potential contractors, supervision engineering companies, auditing firms	Project execution, technical and operational roles	On-field implementation of various project activities, in addition to the provision of technical support and hands-on experience throughout the project Moreover, the successful implementation of the Project overall benefits local industries supporting the construction sector	External
Other services/companies benefiting from restoring electricity supply (water, health, agriculture, education, businesses, transport, etc.)	Indirect Beneficiaries of the project	Reliance on electricity supply for service delivery and operations	External
Suppliers of equipment and materials	Provide materials and equipment needed for implementation	Procurement and contribution to local economic development	External
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) (local, regional, national)	Support implementation, oversee environmental and social compliance	Implementation, consultation and outreach, compliance with E&S requirements	External
NGOs related to women’s rights and gender aspects (please refer to annex 1 for a detailed list)	Advocate for gender equity and women's inclusion in project activities	Ensuring gender equity, protection from GBV, inclusion in decision-making	External
NGOs related to environmental protection, such as Greenpeace, The Environmental Protection Agency of Syria, etc.	Advocate and monitor environmental impacts. Oversee environmental compliance	Ensuring the requirements are being adhered to. Minimizing ecological damage	External
NGOs related to heritage protection, such as Syrians for Heritage	Advocate and monitor risks to cultural heritage	Preserving cultural sites	External
NGOs related to people with disabilities and social inclusion	Advocate for inclusive project design and implementation	Ensuring accessibility, participation and projection of people with disabilities	External
Labor Union and Workers Associations	Protect worker interests and advocate for fair labor practices	Ensuring safe employment conditions, worker health and safety, and fair wages	External
Development Partners	Support funding, oversight, and technical guidance	Effective use of funds, alignment with international standards, transparent reporting, and achievement of development outcomes	External
National Media	Disseminate project information to the public	Enable wide and regular dissemination of information related to the Project to ensure its visibility, facilitate stakeholder engagement on the national level	External

3.4. Disadvantaged / Vulnerable Individuals or Groups

Within the project, the vulnerable or disadvantaged groups include but are not limited to the following groups.

Table 4: A Preliminary Identified List of Disadvantaged/Vulnerable Individuals/Groups

Stakeholders Group	Role in Project	Main interests/concerns/ needs in the Project	Internal/External
Women, girls, and female-headed households	Key participants and beneficiaries	May face specific challenges related to safety, access to resources, GBV and economic opportunities. Female-headed households may have additional caregiving responsibilities and limited support	External
The Elderly	Vulnerable group potentially impacted by project activities	May face difficulties in coping with disruptions caused by construction activities and may have limited mobility and access to public meetings	External
People with Disabilities (PwD)	Vulnerable group requiring inclusive planning and communication	May face difficulties in accessing public meetings. Require accessible and inclusive communication methods, and tailored engagement approaches	External
Youth	Emerging community members and potential beneficiaries of job creation and training opportunities	Risk of exclusion from consultations, need for skills development, employment opportunities, and involvement in decision-making	External
Low Income Households	Vulnerable group with limited financial capacity and access to basic services	May be affected by disruptions, affordability of services, and access to benefits which leads to a reduction in their standard of living or income	External
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and returnees	Beneficiaries of improved services; vulnerable group	May face challenges accessing resources due to the temporary nature of their residence. Might require targeted efforts to reach this group through humanitarian organizations	External
Ethnic and Religious Minorities	Vulnerable group that may face discrimination or exclusion	Risk of exclusion from engagement processes, limited access to information and services	External
Rural and remote residents (living at borders with Jordan and Turkey)	Geographically isolated community members	Risk of exclusion from stakeholder engagement and limited access to infrastructure. Need for targeted outreach and accessible grievance mechanisms	External
Migrant workers and war veterans	Overlooked and underrepresented groups	Need support services, and recognition of their specific vulnerabilities	External

Vulnerable groups within the communities affected by the project will be further confirmed and consulted through dedicated means, as appropriate. Description of the methods of engagement that will be undertaken by the project is provided in the following sections.

4. Stakeholder Engagement Program

4.1. Summary of Stakeholder Engagement Done During Project Preparation

Due to the emergency nature of this operation and the constrained timeframe for project preparation, the client was unable to conduct comprehensive consultations initially. Nevertheless, the PETDE is committed to facilitating meaningful consultations during the implementation phase with all relevant stakeholders. This will ensure that their perspectives, concerns, and needs are thoroughly considered.

However, The Bank team working on project preparation conducted several meetings and consultation sessions with several departments and directorates within the MOE and PETDE, a limited number of UN agencies active in Syria. Meetings and consultation sessions were conducted either in person, and virtually and took place between March- May 2025. The environmental and social risks and benefits were consulted during project preparation with the implementing agencies and the different departments in these institutions. Stakeholders highlighted and provided details and data related to a range of issues related to land acquisition, labor, grievance mechanism, etc. The draft SEP summarizes how these issues have been taken into consideration in project design and preparation of E&S instruments. The SEP sets out systematic information disclosure and stakeholder engagement processes for stakeholders throughout the project cycle.

4.2. Summary of Project Stakeholder Needs and Methods, Tools and Techniques for Stakeholder Engagement

The Stakeholder Engagement Plan below outlines the engagement process, methods, including sequencing, topics of consultations and target stakeholders. The World Bank and the Borrower do not tolerate reprisals and retaliation against project stakeholders who share their views about Bank-financed projects.

Table 5: Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure Plan

Project stage	Target stakeholders	Topic of consultation / information to be disclosed/ messages	Method used	Responsibilities	Frequency/ Timeline
Preparation stage	Project Affected Parties (As mentioned in section 3.2)	- Present the project and receive feedback on project activities. - Consult on key E&S risks and impacts, and measures to address them including SEP - Provide information on GM	Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/Discussions - Community consultations - One-on-one interviews - Site visits - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	National Public Institutions (As mentioned in section 3.3)		Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/Discussions - Formal meetings - Virtual discussions or surveys - One-on-one interviews - Site visits Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	Private Institutions and Companies (As mentioned in section 3.3)		Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/Discussions - Formal meetings - Virtual discussions or surveys - One-on-one interviews - Site visits Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	NGOs working in different sectors (As mentioned in section 3.3)		Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/Discussions - Community consultations - Formal meetings - Virtual discussions or surveys - One-on-one interviews - Site visits - -Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) Language: Arabic/English	PETDE/PMT	Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	Vulnerable Groups of the project (As mentioned in section 3.4)	- Present the project and receive feedback on project activities - Consult on key E&S risks and impacts, and measures to address them including SEP - Consult on opportunities to benefit from the project - Provide information on GM	Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/ Discussions - Community consultations - Surveys Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Preferably one meeting per governorate for each vulnerable group, if feasible.
Implementation stage	Project Affected Parties (As mentioned in section 3.2)	- Inform on Project progress - Consult on key E&S risks and impacts, and measures to address them including SEP, ESIA, ESMP, and other ES management plans - Update on new risks, if any - Update about GM and remind about reporting pathways	Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/Discussions - Community consultations - One-on-one interviews - Site visits - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) - Project website Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Bi-annually Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	National Public Institutions (As mentioned in section 3.3)	- Inform on Project progress - Consult on key E&S risks and impacts, and measures to address them including SEP, ESIA, ESMP, and other ES management plans - Update on new E&S risks and impacts, if any - Update about GM implementation	Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/ Discussions - Formal meetings - Virtual discussions or surveys - One-on-one interviews - Site visits - Project website Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Bi-annually Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	Private Institutions and Companies (As mentioned in section 3.3)	- Inform on Project progress - Consult on key E&S risks and impacts, and measures to address them including SEP, ESIA, ESMP, and other ES management plans - Update on new risks, if any - Update about GM and remind about reporting pathways	Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/ Discussions - Formal meetings - Virtual discussions or surveys - One-on-one interviews - Site visits - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) - Project website Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Bi-annually Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	NGOs working in different sectors (As mentioned in section 3.3)	- Inform on Project progress - Consult on key E&S risks and impacts, and measures to address them including SEP, ESIA, ESMP, and other ES management plans - Update on new risks, if any - Update about GM and remind about reporting pathways	Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/ Discussions - Formal meetings - Community consultations - Virtual discussions or surveys - One-on-one interviews - Site visits - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) - Project website Language: Arabic/English	PETDE/PMT	Bi-annually Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	Vulnerable Groups of the project (As mentioned in section 3.4)	- Inform on Project progress - Consult on key E&S risks and impacts, and measures to address them including SEP, ESIA, ESMP, and other ES management plans - Update on new risks, if any - Update about GM and remind about reporting pathways	Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/ Discussions - Community consultations - Surveys - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) - Project website Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Bi-annually Preferably one meeting per governorate for each vulnerable group, if feasible.
End of Project	Project Affected Parties (As mentioned in section 3.2)	- Dissemination of project outcomes and results achieved	Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings/Discussions - Community consultations - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) - Project website Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Project closure and dissemination event Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	National Public Institutions (As mentioned in section 3.3)		Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings - Formal meetings - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) - Project website Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Project closure and dissemination event
	Private Institutions and Companies (As mentioned in section 3.3)		Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings - Formal meetings - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) - Project website Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Project closure and dissemination event Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	NGOs working in different sectors (As mentioned in section 3.3)		Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Focus Group Meetings - Formal meetings - Community consultations - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) - Project website Language: Arabic/English	PETDE/PMT	Project closure and dissemination event Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.
	Vulnerable Groups of the project (As mentioned in section 3.4)		Potential methods include but are not limited to: - Formal meetings - Community consultations - Social media and communication platforms (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.) - Project website Language: Arabic	PETDE/PMT	Project closure and dissemination event Preferably one meeting per governorate, if feasible.

4.3. Proposed Strategy to Incorporate the Views of Vulnerable Groups

The project will seek the views of vulnerable groups through the following specific methods of engagement in order allow full and enabling participation and access to information:

The project will particularly encourage broader participation and benefits for women. The consultations will engage women in discussions on the types of jobs in the energy sector or related supporting sectors they could most benefit from. The project will ensure that community engagement teams are gender-balanced and promote women’s leadership within the design, online and in-person surveys and other engagement activities so that women in unpaid care work can participate. It is also important to consider provisions for transport and safety for any in-person community engagement activities. Gender-segregated consultations might be needed during the project implementation to allow for the free and enabling participation of women and girls, including groups of women and girls who are particularly vulnerable to exclusion and risks potentially associated with the project. Women as a vulnerable group will most likely need to be contacted through direct means and meetings as they might not have access to internet and could be illiterate. Thus, consultations with NGOs, women’s organizations and organizations advocating for survivors’ rights is crucial to support engagement of women throughout the project.

Elderly and people with existing medical conditions certainly have limited resources and capabilities which might hinder their engagement in consultation. To ensure their participation, it is important to identify their specific needs and the measures to be taken to care for them. Tailored messaged in an easy and understandable language allows such groups to have access to information about the project. These groups will most likely need to be contacted through direct means and meetings as they do not have access to internet and could be illiterate. This is where NGOs will play an important role in supporting engagement with these groups.
Persons with disabilities often need support in order to be able to engage throughout the project. Depending on their needs, information in accessible formats, like braille, large print and multiple forms of communication, such as text captioning or signed videos, allow these groups to have access to information. These groups will most likely need to be contacted through direct means and meetings as they do not have access to internet and could be illiterate. This is where NGOs will play an important role in supporting engagement with these groups.
Internally displaced persons and returnees will definitely have limited resources which hinder their engagement in consultations. It is important to identify their specific needs and living conditions in order to be able to support them and encourage their participation in consultations. For example, most of them might lack access to social media and online platforms, hence invitations for consultations should take place either through brochures and leaflets or through NGOs working with displaced persons. In addition, they will, at most times, require transportation in order to attend consultations. Such mechanisms should be put in place in order to make information accessible to them and to ensure their engagement throughout the project.
Youth are a key group with potential to benefit from training and job creation in the energy and infrastructure sectors. They may be overlooked in formal engagement processes; therefore, youth-specific sessions, digital outreach (where feasible), to ensure their voices are included in project planning and benefit-sharing.
Low-Income Households may experience disproportionate impacts from construction or service disruptions and often face barriers to participation. It is important to identify their needs and living conditions in order to support them. Local outreach, neighborhood-level consultations, and targeted support should be put in place to ensure their needs are captured and addressed. These efforts will help prevent further marginalization and promote equitable access to project benefits.
Ethnic and Religious minorities face the risk of exclusion from engagement processes and limited access to project benefits. Culturally sensitive and inclusive approaches should be adopted to recognize and respond to social dynamics that may limit participation and ensure these communities are equitably informed and engaged. Involving local leaders can enhance trust and improve participation outcomes.
Rural and Remote Residents may be isolated due to geographic constraints and limited infrastructure. To ensure their participation mobile outreach teams, local coordination with municipalities, can be used to reach them.
Migrant workers and war veterans may face exclusion from stakeholder engagement due to distinct social, economic, and psychological barriers. Migrant workers might encounter language challenges, lack of legal status, or fear of discrimination, which can hinder their participation. Tailored messaging in clear, simple, and translated language, along with direct outreach, will help ensure they have access to project information and consultation opportunities. War veterans, on the other hand, may experience psychological trauma, social isolation, or difficulties reintegrating into civilian life, which can affect their willingness or ability to engage. It is important to identify their specific needs such as mental health support or transportation and provide a respectful environment for their participation.

5. Resources and Responsibilities for Implementing Stakeholder Engagement

5.1. Implementation Arrangements and Resources

PETDE is the implementing entity responsible for owning and executing the Project. They will be responsible for carrying out the stakeholder engagement activities. The overall responsibility for SEP implementation lies with the PMT project manager.

The project’s stakeholder engagement implementation arrangements and implementation are the responsibility of PMT in general, and the responsibility of the environmental and social Focal Points at PETDE supported by E&S specialists as needed. The strategies to be adopted for stakeholder engagement targeting the general public and the vulnerable groups should be implemented throughout the project. Before the implementation of the project, the PMT, along with the E&S focal points of the project shall review this SEP document and the strategy of engagement to update as needed. In addition, during implementation if any requirements for engagement strategies arise, the latter shall be updated within this SEP. The E&S specialists will be responsible for implementing the SEP and regularly checking for updates if needed.

The stakeholder engagement activities will be documented through various forms, such as recordings or note-taking, depending on the most suitable method given the type of consultation activity held and the group of participants.

. The preliminary budget breakdown for draft SEP implementation is found in Annex 3 and

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