The Environmental and Social Assessment Report (ESAR) has been prepared in support of a project proposal entitled “Afghanistan rural energy market transformation initiative - Strengthening resilience of livelihoods through sustainable energy access” (the project) by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). As this project is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its role as a GCF Accredited Entity, the project has been screened against the UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards Procedure and deemed a Moderate Risk (World Bank/International Finance Corporation Category B) project. As such, an ESAR has been prepared for the project. Chapter Eight (6) of the ESAR provides the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the project. The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) as executing entity will lead the project. The MRRD will be supported by a Project Steering Committee (PSC) for the implementation of the project and compliance with this ESAR and ESMP. The objective of the project is to prepare the ground-work for rural renewable energy market transformation in Afghanistan through a combination of targeted de-risking activities to address key mini-grid investment risks.