3. Second Session: The WCD Decision-making Framework – towards implementation

The participants were each assigned to one of four working groups, set up to work in parallel on the same topics, and to report back at the end of the morning. The groups were asked to hold an initial discussion on:

• Forum members’ perceptions of the steps needed to promote testing, adaptation, acceptance and implementation of the Commission’s proposals in a range of practical situations.
  
  

• The need, if any, for co-ordinated follow-up (whether international, national or perhaps multilateral arrangements among stakeholders groups) to assist in moving towards implementation of the recommendations of the report.

The groups reported back to plenary at the end of the morning, indicating a considerable area of common ground concerning priorities for the post-WCD period. Widespread support existed for:

• Broad dissemination of the WCD report and associated materials in as wide a range of languages as possible.
  
  

• Support to local, national and regional dialogues and similar processes aimed at examining the relevance and applicability of the WCD recommendations to the different respective contexts.
  
  

• Provision of capacity building and technical assistance to enable countries and stakeholder groups to work with the report.
  
  

• Monitoring and exchange of information on initiatives taken by individual stakeholders or stakeholder groups.
  
  

• Seeking to ensure that the WCD recommendations receive positive consideration by governments and appropriate intergovernmental processes, especially in developing regions.

Many felt that the importance of the above actions warranted the establishment of a light, time-limited follow-up unit to play a catalysing and co-ordinating role, to mobilise funding and to ensure appropriate support to specific activities. Others were reluctant to support anything that appeared like a perpetuation of the Commission under another guise.

The four working groups also had a range of ideas on field-testing of the WCD recommendations, developing cases studies of their application, further work on issues such as options assessment, existing dams, or on compliance mechanisms. Positions remained divided on the structure, governance and administrative location of any organised follow-up unit.