Water

Proposed Revision in ADB's Water Policy
Regarding Large Water Resources Projects
Comments from Clients and Stakeholders

I noticed that ADB has put its draft revised Water policy on the web for comments (www.adb.org/Water/Policy/proposed_revision.asp).

I have gone quickly through the main statements and I would like to bring to your attention the large difference between the following sentences:

1. stakeholders must be provided the opportunity to comment regarding the justification with their views considered. The ADB will promote the participation of government, civil society and other stakeholders in the country towards this end.
2. all government and nongovernment stakeholders in the country must agree on the justification (Paragraph 32 of ADB's Water Policy)

While sentence [a] is not only acceptable, but absolutely necessary, sentence [b] is a recipe for stopping any project (dam or not dam). I do not know of any large infrastructure project, especially a dam, in which all stakeholders agreed on justification. You just need a few (even one, if vocal enough) to stop any initiative that may be badly needed by the largest majority of stakeholders.

I would refer you to the section on the 3Rs (Rights, Risks, and Responsibilities) in the SIOAP Sourcebook that I shared with you time ago. The need to reach a decision requires a responsible attitude by the stakeholder forum, and the acceptance of the role of government as the ultimate arbiter among (necessarily and inevitably) diverse positions.

Hope this helps in finalizing the revision of ADB Water Policy.

Congratulation for the initiative and best wishes.