Evaluation

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Involuntary Resettlement Safeguards: Evaluation Case Studies

OED conducted 16 case studies in 2006 in preparation of the Involuntary Resettlement Safeguards evaluation. They concerned resettlement in ongoing and completed projects that ADB supported in India, China, and the Philippines. These are some of the countries with the highest occurrence of land acquisition and resettlement in ADB supported projects.

The case studies were mostly in the transport; energy; urban; and agriculture sectors. They show in detail how resettlement works out in the various country contexts, and the extent to which ADB's policy was followed. There are many pictures. The main finding is that the compliance with the policy has been variable, especially when resettlement performance is compared with the currently very strict interpretation of ADB's involuntary resettlement policy. The case studies also analyze how the impact of resettlement was mitigated, and how people have reacted to the process. In most cases, small questionnaire surveys gauged restoration of livelihoods, complaints and satisfaction levels. The case studies show the reality of resettlement in a period of transition, when ADB's attention for social safeguards increased, more staff time was dedicated to their enforcement, and more experience was built up.

The case studies are organized in a volume on India, on the People's Republic of China, and the Philippines.