Water

Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. 62 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 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 World Commission on Dams - reactions and follow up UNEP Dams and Development Project World Bank Examples of in-country dialogues Policies in the private sector and export credit agencies Professional Associations International Organizations Non-Governmental Organizations XI. ADB, Dams, and Development XII. References Contact Us

World Bank Action Plan & Water Resources Sector Strategy

In February 2003, the World Bank introduced an updated Water Resources Sector Strategy. The Strategy has seven key messages:

Message 1: Water resources management and development are central to sustainable growth and poverty reduction and therefore of central importance to the mission of the World Bank.

Message 2: Most developing countries need to be active in both management and development of water resources infrastructure.

Message 3: The main management challenge is not a vision of integrated water resources management but a "pragmatic but principled" approach.

Message 4: The World Bank needs to assist countries in developing and maintaining appropriate stocks of well-performing hydraulic infrastructure and in mobilizing public and private financing, while meeting environmental and social standards.

Message 5:… the World Bank will reengage with high-reward-high-risk hydraulic infrastructure, using a more effective business model.

Message 6: The Bank is perceived by many to have a major comparative advantage in the water sectors, and there is, accordingly, a strong demand for Bank services and a strong demand that the Bank engage.

Message 7: The Bank's water assistance must be tailored to country circumstances and be consistent with the overarching Country Assistance Strategies and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers.

Annex 1 of the World Bank's Strategy outlines its response to the World Commission on Dams as approved by the Board of Directors in December 2001. In summary it states that

'In common with virtually all those consulted, the World Bank shares the WCD core values and concurs with the need to promote the seven strategic priorities.

The focus of much controversy regarding the WCD Report has centered on the 26 "guidelines," which have been interpreted by some proponents and critics of the Report as a proposed new set of binding standards. The World Bank's conclusion on the guidelines is best summarized by the Chair of the WCD, who has explained that "our guidelines offer guidance-not a regulatory framework. They are not laws to be obeyed rigidly….They are guidelines with a small 'g'." Individual governments and private sector developers may wish to test the application of some of the WCD guidelines in the context of specific projects. In such cases, the World Bank will work with the government and developer on applying the relevant guidelines in a practical, efficient and timely manner.'

The response then presents the World Bank's explanation of the differences between its policies and the detailed recommendations of WCD.

As part of its response, the World Bank initiated a Dams Planning and Management Action Plan - including aspects of stakeholder participation in options assessment and environmental flows.

World Bank projects are subject to 10 safeguard policies:

• Environmental Assessment
• Natural Habitats
• Forests
• Pest Management
• Cultural Property
• Involuntary Resettlement
• Indigenous Peoples
• Safety of Dams
• Disputed Areas
• International Waterways

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