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Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. -1 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 XI. ADB, Dams, and Development XII. References Contact Us

Examples of in-country dialogues on dams and development
South Africa

A two-day multi-stakeholder symposium on the WCD report was held on 23-24 July 2001. It was jointly organised by the South African National Committee on Large National Committee on Large Dams, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, the Environmental Monitoring Group and IUCN - the World Conservation Union.

The Symposium hosted a briefing on the WCD Report followed by different groups presenting their perspectives on the implications for South Africa. A series of South African case studies were also presented. Following a series of presentations and discussions sessions, the Symposium agreed two resolutions:

Resolution 1: This Symposium declares itself to be broadly supportive of the strategic priorities outlined in the WCD report, but believes that the guidelines need to be contextualised in the South African situation.

Resolution 2: This Symposium supports the process of taking the WCD guidelines further in the Southern African context.

As a result of the Symposium, a South African Multi-stakeholder Initiative on the WCD report was launched. A Scoping Report was prepared that analyses the key issues in the South African context. It forms the basis for more substantive analysis and research where necessary that in turn will lead to policy and procedural recommendations to all South African institutions involved in dams and their alternatives.

The Scoping Report was discussed and refined by a second meeting of the wider multi-stakeholder forum on 23 July 2002. About 75 participants representing a broad range of perspectives came together in a constructive dialogue on the main issues raised in the report. Based on the discussion at the Forum, the Scoping Report was finalised in October 2002.

A third meeting of the multi-stakeholder forum was convened by the Coordinating Committee on October 23-24 2003 in Valley Trust, Durban. The main objective of the meeting was to consider a draft report on three main strategic priorities (gaining public acceptance, comprehensive options assessment and addressing existing dams) elaborated under the guidance of the Coordinating Committee.

Following the plenary presentations, the participants were divided into working groups each tasked with debating the key issues and proposing corrections, additions and deletions in the draft report. The initiative is now entering the phase of more substantive analysis of issues raised in order to consider specific areas of reform appropriate to the South African context and is expected to be completed by October 2004.

The draft final report of the SA process is currently being reviewed.

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