Water

Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. 22 of 74 BACK | NEXT Home Page of Dams and Development Foreword I. Why an e-paper on dams and development? II. Assessing options III. Participatory processes Levels of participation How to identify the stakeholders Assessing social impacts Prior informed consent What do ADB policies and strategies say? IV. Social impacts V. Environmental impacts VI. Benefit distribution VII. Dam safety and sustainability VIII. Existing projects IX. Improving governance X. What other organizations say XI. ADB, Dams, and Development XII. References Contact Us

What do ADB policies and strategies say?

Participatory processes are an essential part of ADB operations - not only to ensure that social dimensions and impacts of projects are comprehensively addressed, but also in recognition of the wider benefits that stakeholder involvement brings to project design and implementation. A recent ADB paper on 'Modes of Participation' notes:

'When the people involved feel that their participation is meaningful, the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of development initiatives improve'. (Poverty and Social Development paper No. 6, July 2003, p.1)

The diverse socio-cultural and institutional settings in Asia-Pacific region require a context-specific approach to participatory processes appropriate to the scale and nature of the project and its services, and the extent that participatory processes have already been adopted in earlier stages of planning. Participatory processes should form part of identifying needs and assessing options. ADB can encourage this through stakeholder consultations during country strategy and program formulation, through sector planning and analysis, and in capacity building programs.

Once a project or sub-set of projects has been selected for feasibility study, more localized participatory processes can be developed to supplement the public consultations undertaken for environmental assessment and resettlement planning.

The following extracts from ADB's policies, strategies and handbooks provide guidance and direction on the nature of participatory processes in ADB's operations.

• Long Term Strategic Framework
• Poverty Reduction Strategy
• Incorporation of Social Dimensions in Bank Operations
• Sectoral policies: Water, Forestry and Fisheries
• Environment Policy
• Involuntary Resettlement
• Indigenous Peoples
• Gender and Development Policy
• Policy on Cooperation with NGOs
• Disclosure of Information Policy to 2005
• Governance Policy

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