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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

Indigenous Peoples Policy

In a number of countries in the region, indigenous peoples form a significant proportion of the population affected by dam projects, either due to land acquisition requirements or changes in the river system that modify the resource base of traditional livelihoods.

Special provisions are included in ADBs policy on indigenous peoples cover the mode of their participation, their special needs, and procedures related to resettlement, compensation and benefit sharing.

Policy objectives, processes and approaches within ADB (paras 31-43)

'In its operations, ADB observes a policy and associated strategies and approaches that recognize the potential vulnerability of indigenous peoples in development processes and that ensure that indigenous peoples have opportunities to participate in and benefit equally from development'. (para 31)

'ADB development efforts work to ensure that development initiatives affecting indigenous peoples are effective and sustainable…compatible in substance and structure with the affected peoples' culture and social and economic instruments…Initiatives should be conceived, planned and implemented, to the maximum extent possible , with the informed consent of affected communities, and include respect for indigenous peoples' dignity, human rights, and cultural uniqueness'. (para 31)

'The ISA [Initial Social Assessment] would address definition and identification of indigenous people in the specific context of the project in question….including country specific considerations and national legislation and policy. (para 36)

'A project negatively affecting indigenous peoples must be appropriately redesigned to mitigate negative effects, or include an acceptable compensation plan. The provision of compensation should not be a substitute for efforts to avoid or mitigate negative affects a project may have'. (para 37)

'As the costs of an indigenous peoples' plan would affect and be part of the overall cost of the project, and as implementation of the indigenous peoples' plan would have effects on the overall implementation schedule of a project, preparation of the plan must be completed no later than the appraisal stage of a project'. (para 38)

'In development efforts that affect indigenous people, it is necessary that ADB integrate concern for indigenous peoples into each step of programming, project processing and policy development cycles….strategies to overcome structural constraints should be explored'. (para 40)

'Key issues that should be considered as ADB addresses indigenous peoples matters, and the continuity of indigenous peoples' communities, include:

• Legal recognition of ancestral domain and the traditional rights of indigenous peoples over land and resources;
• Recognized legitimacy of the indigenous social and legal institutions of indigenous peoples; and
• recognition of the right of indigenous peoples to direct the course of their own development and change. (para 42)

The Policy (paras 56-61)

'For development interventions it supports or assists, ADB will ensure that affected populations and persons are at least as well-off as they would have been in the absence of the intervention, or that adequate compensation is provided'. (para 57)

'The policy ensures that ADB interventions are affecting indigenous peoples are:

• consistent with the needs and aspirations of affected indigenous peoples;
• compatible in substance and structure with affected peoples' culture and social economic institutions;
• conceived, planned and implemented with the informed participation of affected communities;
• equitable in terms of development efforts and impact; and
• not imposing the negative effects of development on indigenous peoples without appropriate and acceptable compensation. (para 57)

'If the initial social assessment identifies indigenous peoples specifically as a significantly and adversely affected population, or vulnerable to being so affected' it is required that an indigenous peoples' plan acceptable to ADB be prepared by a government or other project sponsors'. (para 58)

Indigenous peoples development plan (Appendix)

'..It is preferable that the net impact of project will have on indigenous peoples be not only positive, but also be perceived by indigenous peoples as positive…' (App. para 2(ii))

'Where previous experience and knowledge of working successfully with indigenous peoples is lacking, pilot-scale operations should be carried out and evaluated prior to the execution of full-scale efforts'. (App. para 2(v))

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