Projects

	Table of Contents
p. 4 of 6 BACK | NEXT Background Why the project is needed Issues and concerns ADB's response to issues and concerns Grievance Redress and Settlement Committee Activities Frequently asked questions

ADB's response to issues and concerns

In response to issues being raised by nongovernment organizations (NGOs ) and community-based organizations, including a December 2000 report outlining locally perceived problems with the Project, ADB has been dialoguing with local stakeholders. This process included:

• recruiting consultants to conduct an initial social assessment in the field to identify and interview key stakeholders and assess the nature and scope of their concerns
• producing a report summarizing the results of the fact-finding and suggesting institutional approaches that might be considered for resolving the issues
• seeking feedback on the draft report from stakeholders, and producing a discussion paper for a multistakeholder dialogue workshop
• designing and facilitating a multistake-holder dialogue among key stakeholders to discuss and plan mitigation strategies

This consultative work was done over the latter half of 2001 and early 2002, culminating in a workshop held at the project site in March 2002. The workshop was at the center of a special review mission from ADB that visited Pakistan for one week. The workshop outputs included several items on which general agreement—or at least no objection—was achieved on actions for the implementing agency, Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), to take regarding consultation, transparency, and other issues.

During the past few months, the provincial governments have accelerated the process of compensation payments for land and other farm and household resources adversely affected by the Project. Since July 2002, ADB has been working with WAPDA and the provincial governments on establishing a redress system that involves all key stakeholders, including district governments and the people affected, to address and resolve all pending claims for compensation and other assistance that may result from the Project. A memorandum of understanding was signed between ADB and the Government on establishment of the Grievance Redress and Settlement Committee and its terms of reference in January 2003.