News and Events

Regional Workshop on Capacity Building for Resettlement Risk Management

On 8-9 December 2005, a regional workshop on Capacity Building for Resettlement Risk Management was held at the ADB Headquarters in Manila, Philippines. Delegates from Cambodia, India and Peoples Republic of China, representing diverse backgrounds including representatives from focal agencies and selected stakeholders from participating countries and other institutions attended the workshop.

The regional workshop concludes the implementation of the regional technical assistance (TA 6091) being implemented by ADB's Environment and Social Safeguard Division (RSES), Regional and Sustainable Development Department (RSDD). Read more on TA 6091.

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• Read the Welcome Remarks
• Read the Keynote Address
• Read the Synthesis of the Workshop
• Read the Closing Remarks

The workshop serves as a forum for presenting country reports, focus groups discussions and a means for coordination with other countries on improving our understanding and capacity for managing involuntary resettlement related risks.

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At the end of the workshop, participants will have:

• Shared their experiences in addressing involuntary resettlement concerns and challenges in Cambodia, India, Peoples Republic of China
• Learned about the economics of sound resettlement planning and asset valuation approaches in three focal countries

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There were more than 60 participants from Cambodia, Peoples Republic of China, India as well as various bilateral, multilateral institutions, and nongovernment organizations. These participants were representatives of participating national agencies, national consultants, NGOs, bilateral and multilateral donors agencies with interest and expertise on managing involuntary resettlement risks in development projects.

View the directory of participants.

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Dr. Bindu Lohani opened the regional workshop. In his opening statement, he highlighted the importance of safeguard issues being properly handled and in compliance with ADB's environment, involuntary resettlement, and indigenous peoples policies.

Mr. Nessim J. Ahmad (2nd from left), expressed his appreciation for the hard work of all those involved in implementing TA 6091 and in organizing the workshop. He explained that the regional workshop is timely as ADB is in the process of updating it's safeguard policies, including ADB's policy on involuntary resettlement. He expects that the results of TA 6091 and the workshop deliberations during the workshop will provide important inputs to the safeguard review process.

In his Keynote Address, Dr. Walter Kalin* spoke about rights-based approach to development. This approach emphasized the complementarity of development and human rights goals.

Ms. Xiaoling Zhang, Deputy General Engineer, China Land Survey and Planning Institute presented the findings and recommendations of the PRC Country Team. In his Wrap-up speech, Mr. Pan Mingcai (1st from left), Director, Cultivated Land Protection, Ministry of Land and Resources, discussed the acquisition of farmers' land, how to protect the lawful rights and interests of land loss farmers and guarantee their production and livelihood.

TA 6091 activities in China was coordinated by Scott Ferguson (3rd from left), Sr. Resettlement Specialist, East and Central Asia Regional Department. The session was chaired by Mr. Xianbin Yao, Deputy Director General, East and Central Asia Regional Department.

Mr. Parthapriya Ghosh presented the findings of the studies done in India. In-country activities was coordinated by Dr. Jayantha Perera, Sr. Compliance Specialist, South Asia Regional Department (SARD). The session was chaired by Mr. C.R. Rajendran, Advisor (Safeguards and Compliance), South Asia Regional Deparment.

Chea Sarin (left) gave an overview of the RETA activities in Cambodia and presented the lessons learned and recommendations based on the case studies conducted. discussed. In his Wrap Up Speech , Mr. Chhorn Sopheap (center), Deputy Director of Legal Affairs Department Ministry of Economy and Finance, expressed his appreciation of the findings and recommendations given by the Country Team. He shared plans of the Royal Government of Cambodia to develop its own National Resettlement Policy and other supporting guidelines to improve resettlement planning and implementation for future development projects. TA activities in Cambodia were coordinated by Ms. Marla Huddleston, Sr. Social Development/ Resettlement Specialist, Mekong Regional Department (MKRD). The session was chaired by Anthony Jude (right), Head, Project Administration Unit, MKRD.

Dr. Michael Cernea* outlined five main "bundles of issues", which represent key building blocks of resettlement economics and social reconstruction:

• compensation principle, its strengths and limits, and how it can be improved
• methodology for project economic and financial analysis of resettlement 'components' in projects
• need and nature of investment financing for development-oriented resettlement
• benefit-sharing with resettlers
and
• contingency earmarkings for remedial social actions.

Dr. Ping Li* gave an overview of his technical report on asset valuation methodologies. His presentation identified typical gaps between ADB's Involuntary Resettlement Policy and compensatory provisions in national legal frameworks, highlighted the sources of undercompensation and provided recommendations on asset valuation methodologies for various types of assets. He also briefly mentioned asset valuation issues in the 3 RETA focal countries.

Several working groups were formed to formulate recommendations to address 3 key issues in resettlement risk management: asset valuation, impoverishment risks and reconstruction and capacity building and M&E.

View the group presentations available in the workshop documents section.

Ms. Ruwani Jayewarde, Sr. Social Development Specialist gave the synthesis of RETA findings and recommendations made by participants and guests in the 2-day workshop and highlighted the need to continue supporting our partner countries in policy development, capacity support, improved implementation and strengthening ADB's own resources. She concluded her speech with a quote from the PRC report which called for a long-term objective that determines compensation based on the market and not on policy.

Workshop participants and organizers group photo.

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