The DDP is the most important institutional follow up to the World Commission on Dams. The WCD was established by the World Bank and IUCN in 1998 with a mandate to review the development effectiveness of large dams and assess alternatives for water resources and energy development; and develop internationally acceptable criteria, guidelines and standards for the planning, design, appraisal, construction, operation, monitoring and decommissioning of dams.
The Commission's final report was launched in 2000 and it provides a new framework for decision–making on water and energy projects based on recognizing the rights of, and assessing the risks to, all stakeholders. Kader Asmal, Chairman of the WCD, on commenting about the Commission's final report indicated “Our guidelines offer guidance – not a regulatory framework. They are not laws to be obeyed rigidly. They are guidelines, with a small “g” that illustrate best practice and show all nations how they can move forward. But guide us they should, as they will reduce the risks and costs for all parties involved”.
General consensus emerged following the launch of the report that the WCD recommendations needed to be disseminated at the country and institutional level, taking the debate further through local multi-stakeholder processes. Accordingly DDP's mandate was established building on such consensus.
Goal, Objectives and Work Programme
The goal of the DDP Phase 1 was to promote a dialogue on improving decision-making, planning and management of dams and their alternatives based on the World Commission on Dams (WCD) core values and strategic priorities . Building on the dialogue of the WCD and the core values and strategic priorities expressed in its report, the objectives and work programme of the first phase of the Dams and Development Project (DDP) included the following four key elements:
Supporting country-level, regional and global dialogues on the WCD report and the issues it addressed with the aim of engaging all stakeholders with emphasis on those not currently involved;
Strengthening interaction and networking among participants in the dams debate;
Supporting the widespread dissemination of the WCD report and the report of the Third WCD Forum, and make available other stakeholders' responses and;
Facilitating the flow of information and advice concerning initiatives relevant to dams and development.
The mandate of the DDP Phase 1 excluded it from taking positions or making judgements on individual projects or associated practices.
Main Achievements of the DDP Phase 1
Promoting Dialogue at National, Regional and Global Levels
Initial dialogue activities in developing countries involving the full or partial accomplishment of the multi-stakeholder approach were carried out with DDP involvement in Argentina , Indonesia , Kenya , Lesotho , Malawi , Namibia , Nepal , South Africa , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Uganda , Vietnam and Zambia .
Dialogue processes involving elaboration of scoping reports or position papers developed subsequently in Nepal , South Africa , Thailand and Vietnam .
The process undertaken by the South African Development Community (SADC) aimed at the elaboration of a regional position paper on WCD was an example of a regional dialogue approach.
Three DD Forum meetings were held during the period on July 2002 in Kenya , September 2003 in Geneva and June 2004 in Nairobi respectively. They were attended by a broad range of stakeholder groups. Discussions addressed a wide range of issues including the presentation of follow up initiatives around the world, framing national dialogues, key dams and development issues as well as the emerging responsibilities and opportunities for the Dams and Development Forum to enhance global dialogue on dams and sustainable development.
Four issues-based workshops contributed to move forward the global dialogue on WCD strategic priorities and dams' issues. They included: Comprehensive Options Assessment ( Geneva , September 2003), Financing Dams and Sustainable Development ( London, April 2004), Addressing Existing Dams ( Nairobi June 2004) and Ensuring Compliance ( Nairobi , June 2004). The meetings aimed at clarifying and elaborating on the WCD strategic priorities in order to provide input to the national dialogue processes and contribute to closing the gap between aspirations and reality as regards their implementation. Their output included recommendations, highlighting critical issues to be dealt with and proposals for DDP further advancing their dissemination and integration into national contexts.
DDP carried the dialogue into the international arena by organizing special events at relevant international conferences. Two side events were convened by DDP: a session on Dams and Development: Promoting dialogue for improved decision-making” at the Third World Water Forum, Kyoto, Japan, on March 20, 2003 and a session on “Is the WCD a suitable tool for assessing the sustainability of hydropower?” at the International Conference on Renewable Energies Bonn 2004, June 2 2004, Bonn, Germany.
Networking
The active DDP website was the key feature of the project information networking displaying the majority of information materials produced by the project activities.
Power point presentations of the WCD process and outcomes as well as of DDP establishment, goals and activities were made at a significant number of national and international events.
As part of the communications tools envisaged by DDP Communication Strategy, DDP produced a set of 10 information sheets (infosheets) aimed at raising awareness on Project activities.
The Secretariat staff and other resources persons have attended over 60 international, regional and national meetings, making presentations, exhibitions and disseminating information and materials concerning WCD and DDP.
Dissemination
Distributing the WCD report, overview, CD-ROM, Knowledge Base and related products, including the views expressed at the Third WCD Forum and other stakeholder responses to over 20 countries world wide.
Overseeing and assisting the translation of WCD materials into different languages including Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Hindi and others.
Exchange of Ideas on Good Practice
The DDP web-based database for experiences and cases of ‘good practice' and ‘lessons learnt' as they relate to dams and their alternatives was made operative in October 2002.
To date , 48 submissions can be accessed on the DDP website and additional ones are being processed.
Results of DDP Phase 1
The need to establish DDP arose from the debate and reactions surrounding the recommendations of the WCD Commissioners to bring them into detailed consideration at the local context through fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue on the basis of the WCD core values and strategic priorities . In pursuing this task, the project, in a relevant number of countries around the world:
Raised awareness on the core values and strategic priorities.
Stimulated their analysis in the national policy and regulatory frameworks.
Helped bringing key national policy dam issues into discussion.
Promoted a multi-stakeholder approach to debating highly sensitive issues.
Supported the development of locally appropriate recommendations on policy and procedure to improve decision making on dams endorsed by a broad range of multi-stakeholder groups.
