ADB on the Ground: Beyond the Silos

Monday, 8 June 2026 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (GMT+8) Auditorium Halls 1–4 Organized by ADB
Overview
ADB on the Ground
ADB on the Ground

The ACEF 2026 aspires to have impacts in the region: (i) requesting more inclusive, secure, and resilient clean energy solutions that are necessary to leapfrog slow-paced energy transitions, (ii) demanding more reliable and advanced cyber-based energy systems and data centers, requires stakeholder interaction and discussions that focus solutions that go beyond the conventional clean-energy transition, necessitating a regional shift towards the development of innovative modular and intelligent energy systems, and (iii) developing clean energy technologies alongside the development of rare earths and critical minerals as well as digital and smart energy systems' to play a crucial role in building secure, resilient, inclusive, and intelligent energy systems.

The ACEF Steering Committee works with the ADB staff to design a session that highlights innovative and successful ADB projects that have made a deep and lasting impact across Asia. The session is called ADB on the Ground and features more than 25 ADB projects, including projects from the energy sector, private sector departments, projects lying in cross-sectoral and nexus areas, and projects from other priority sectors under ADB's strategy 2030 that have overarching targets of clean and sustainable developments. ADB on the Ground uses the rotating "World Cafe" format. Based on evaluation feedback from previous ACEF's and discussions with ADB management and operations staff, the ACEF Steering Committee (ACEF SC) decided to put more effort into showcasing and communicating ADB clean energy projects and activities to the ACEF community during ACEF 2026. The ADB on the Ground Session for this year will be called "ADB on the Ground: Beyond the Silos" and will focus on cross cutting sectorial projects, nexus projects, projects for energy transition, emerging new technologies, and projects developed in the private sector domain. For this session, participants will get a high-level overview of ADB's Strategy and approach for clean energy by a rotating "World Cafe" presentations from ADB staff from various sectors and departments. Each participating ADB project will be assigned a table and highly encourage that in principle one ADB staff/consultants and one (or possibly two) DMC counterparts present. The process will be as follows:

20–25 Tables

Participants sit at one of the tables in the room, each presenting one ADB project.

20 Minutes Per Round

10 total rounds — 12 minutes of presentation followed by 5 minutes of discussion per table.

3-Minute Rotations

After each round, participants rotate freely to another table. ADB-inspired videos play during transitions.

Rich Materials

ADB staff, DMC counterparts, and consultants provide brochures, graphics, charts, and visual aids at each table.

There are many benefits of ADB staff and their counterparts presenting their flagship projects and initiatives to the broader clean energy community attending ACEF, including:

Showcasing cross-sectoral innovation and new approaches through collaboration

Encouraging south-to-south learning across countries, and ADB departments and sectors

Increasing awareness of the transformative and innovative nature of ADB involvement and its deep development impact on the ground

Demonstrating that ADB staff are working with counterparts and stakeholders to lead and demonstrate innovative technologies, approaches, and financing mechanisms

Agenda
  • 9:00 – 9:05 a.m.

    Introductory Remarks and Housekeeping

    Nazmun Nahar, ADB

  • 9:05 – 9:15 a.m.

    Snapshot of All the Projects

    Title pages of all project presentations will be screened to give participants an overview of the full breadth of ADB projects on display.

  • 9:15 – 9:35 a.m.

    1st Table Rotation

    Participants rotate to their first chosen table. An inspirational ADB video will be played during the rotation.

  • 9:35 – 9:55 a.m.

    1st Table Presentation

    Participants engage with their first ADB project table — 12 minutes of presentation followed by 5 minutes of Q&A and discussion.

  • 9:55 a.m. – 12:25 p.m.

    8 More Rounds of Presentations

    Participants rotate through eight additional rounds, with 3 minutes for table rotation and 17 minutes for presentations and Q&A per round. Inspirational ADB videos will be played during each rotation.

  • 12:25 – 12:30 p.m.

    Closing Remarks