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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

Resettlement as development

The predominant principle of compensation programs is to ensure that the livelihoods of people resettled by development projects are not diminished in comparison to the without-project case. The design and delivery of compensation programs involves complex social and institutional processes and past experience has raised the question whether aiming for restoration of livelihoods alone is sufficient.

Viewing resettlement as a development component however can result in a fundamental shift in the way in which projects are designed and implemented. It offers an approach that treats those displaced as a part of the development project - one of the first to benefit.

Such a development oriented approach has the potential to facilitate public acceptance of projects where they are the best option, and could potentially add to overall project benefits, thus offsetting some of the additional costs. In all cases, the initial focus needs to be on avoiding and minimizing displacement as an initial step.

For example, ADB's policy on involuntary resettlement requires that livelihoods of vulnerable groups be enhanced:

'Particular attention should be paid to the needs of the poorest affected persons including those without legal title to assets, female-headed households and other vulnerable groups, such as indigenous peoples, and appropriate assistance provided to help them improve their status'. (para 34(vii))

For further information, see:

• WCD principle - first among the beneficiaries
• Other references

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