Water

Blue Bag Seminar
International Debate on Dams

12 August 2004, ADB Headquarters

Dams continue to be one of the most controversial topics in the water sector.

They provide much needed services for water supply, irrigation, electricity generation and flood management. Yet, experience from past dam projects has also highlighted adverse social, environmental, technical and financial impacts.

WooChong Um, ADB's Principal Operations Specialist, recently attended two workshops on Addressing Existing Dams (14-15 June 2004) and Ensuring Compliance (15-16 June) in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshops were organized by the UNEP Dams and Development Project (UNEP-DDP) to stimulate international multi-stakeholder debate and address issues relative to the World Commission on Dam's (WCD) 3rd and 6th priorities, namely:

• Addressing existing dams
• Ensuring compliance

Mr. Um will make a presentation on the following topics:

• Description of the DDP and how it relates to the WCD initiative
• Interaction with the NGOs and its usefulness
• ADB's involvement in the future DDP activities
• Next steps