Panel 3B:
Large Dams, Food Security and Livelihoods: Understanding Benefits and Impacts

Ms. Jacqueline Ki-Zerbo
Partenariat Homme-Femme pour le Developpement Africain, Burkina Faso
Dams, Food Security and Livelihoods: Analysis of Benefits and Impacts on Gender

The Bagre Dam project in Burkina Faso is made up of two components: a dam on the Nakambe river with a power plant (already completed) and the hydro-agricultural development of the Bagre plain. This submission highlights issues of gender inequity as they relate to the dam project. It states that by increasing the availability of water so as to meet the various needs of the populations, the dam can contribute to the socio-economic welfare of communities, but it can also accentuate inequity between men and women. Although some structures have been created to address social issues of the project, they mostly do not incorporate women.

An analysis related to gender at some stages of the project implementation is proposed in the submission. Some of the specific areas of inequality mentioned are:

• irrigated land and cattle are under the control of men
• women who are household heads do not have access to land
• the training programs for farmers are aimed at men but not women
• there is no female participation in the Bagre Project Consultation Framework, the decision making process of the project, and
• it is necessary to integrate women in mixed farmers groupings to allow for women's participation. Overall, this submission gives an example of how sensitivity to gender is a necessary condition for an equitable development.

Mr. Mohammed Jellali
Directorate General of Hydraulics, Morocco
Large Dams in Morocco: Experiences and Perspectives for the Future

The availability of water in Morocco is very unequal from one area to another. This unequal distribution of water resources both in time and space has led to the building of a series of large dams to attempt to even out the availability of water between the cycle period of drought. The main benefits that Morocco's network of dams has brought to the national economy as a whole may be measured in terms of increased food security and access to both energy and drinking water. The value of the direct services associated with large dams is estimated at 1 billion USD, of which 80% is generated by irrigated agricultural production. The following specific points are of interest:

• Drinking water supplied to 60% of the country's urban population.
• Close to one million hectares have been irrigated (nearly 35 ha per 1000 persons).
• 32% of the power generated in Morocco is hydropower.
• Significant mitigation of the effects of drought events (during the 80s and the 90s).
• Transfer of water resources from water rich areas to water poor areas.
• The guarantee of water supply stimulates growth of both the industrial and service sector. Examples include spectacular growth of agri-food industries, industrial facilities, and emergence of a national engineering and construction industry.
• Development stimulated by dams is directly and indirectly responsible for 14% of rural employment. Moreover, the introduction of irrigated farming techniques has led to a five to eight fold increase in the income of farmers.
• Since most of Morocco's rivers are subject to very low levels of water during 6 months of the year, water released from dams help maintain reasonably high flows throughout the year.

However, dam building does lead to changes in the natural environment and has both social and economic impacts, such as displacement of local populations, and loss of lands, social and public infrastructures due to flooding. EIA and feasibility studies are carried out to evaluate the impacts of projects.

For Morocco, there is no viable alternative than dams to manage and store surface waters in order to alleviate the very unequal distribution of water. Further efforts will be necessary to supply both drinking water and agricultural water in the face of continued population growth. Studies have shown the need to continue building dams at an increased rate during the next few decades. In order to mitigate the impacts of dams on the environment and in particular the displacement of local populations, EIAs are necessary.

Mr. Leo Atakpu
African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Nigeria
Dams, Food Security and Livelihoods: Understanding the Nigerian Experience

Nigeria has three large hydroelectric dams located in Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba, all in the Niger State. The communities living near the dams face the brunt of the annual flooding of the lower Niger River. This situation is exacerbated when the National electric Power Authority (NEPA) opens the dam gates to release water at peak rainfall seasons. In one of the worst incidents, in September 1999, dam water released by NEPA, overran an estimated 200 communities, killing over 1 000 people, submerging 1 500 houses. The inhabitants were warned too late to safeguard their lives and property.

The annual flooding threatens most of Nigeria's staple food such as cowpea, rice, maize and vegetable production, affecting local livelihood and food security. The 1999 flood affected fisher people who lost their canoes and equipment. The fifteen local governments in the frequently flooded region have high under-five mortality rate. Women and children are the worst hit by the frequent floods.

According to the paper, dams in Nigeria are donor-driven rather than based on any clear government policy. Socio-economic studies are not carried out and stakeholders not consulted during project design. Communities potentially vulnerable to dam-break incidents are not effectively resettled. The Niger State government has taken the NEPA to court over issues of flooding and non-payment of rent. The 15 local governments who are most affected by the disaster have formed an association to lobby the government to find a permanent solution. The government and civil society organisations should consult with the people to create alternatives to large dams.

Commissioners' question time

Chair:
A number of panelists have referred to the role of women in development. The social institutions and the patriarchy that exists, especially in rural areas, have effects that militate against women. The WCD is interested in this question of women and gender in both the institutional arena and in their role in policy responses. Do your countries argue against the 'real' role of women in these matters?

Ms. Ki-Zerbo:
Mr. Chairman, your question is very pertinent and Burkina Faso recognises the issue of patriarchy and its effects on women. It is true that women do not participate, in the same degree as men, in the discussions of development as it affects them. However, it is hoped that political will will change this reality to one that will look favourably upon women. Together with this will, education of women, and globalisation (which is not always a bad thing), we will be integrate this thinking into the fabric of our community, our nation, and the world.

Mr. Atakpu:
Traditionally women have been looked down upon in agriculture but in truth, it is always the women who have higher production levels and they are more involved with the work. Hence, whatever policies are put in place, they have to make sure that the women's interests are taken care of. This is done by involving the women in the decision-making process.

Ms. Adams:
In our area, women have always had an independent role as farmers. They have always grown their indigo, ground nuts, etc so that the next year, they can buy goats and cows. Hence, when independent farmers groups were established, the women asked to join and were accepted. However, when the State River Development Authority arrived they gave land to the household heads (men) and told them that they can organise their land as they see fit. This resulted in a women's revolt. They argued that because their names and presence were noted officially in the farmers group before the policy was indicted, they should have their right to retain their independent position. This is how peasant irrigated farming survived.

Commissioner Moore:
Mr. Atakpu, you mentioned that dams in Nigeria are donor driven, what do you mean by that? What suggestions do you have to make international agencies more responsive to local communities' interests?

Mr. Atakpu:
The role of the World Bank is questionable in Nigeria and that is what gave rise to our organisation. The Bank has a way of penetrating our government, not just in the area of dams, but in other areas as well. This is why I say that our dams are donor-driven. But now that the dam is built, something has to be done to address the problems faced by the people. Annual flooding is being experienced by the people so they have to be relocated. There is a need for more assistance from donor agencies to set up poverty alleviation programs to take them away from river banks to escape flooding. These programs have to be attractive enough for them to leave those flood-prone areas because those areas provide their livelihoods.

Ms. Adams:
I will not comment on the role of the World Bank in Senegal for fear that I will get carried away. However, I would like to say that the Bank is 'looking over its shoulder' more due to the attention that it is receiving from NGOs like Environmental Defense Fund. The NGOs also need to link up with affected peoples' groups in order to gain the full legitimacy it needs to press on in this struggle.

Commissioner Scudder:
Has any consideration been given to operating the dams in controlled releases which would would both deal, to a certain extent, with the flood problem and would restore the productivity for the people downstream? Is that an option being considered at all?

Mr. Atakpu:
That is not an option being considered yet by the authorities of the dams in Nigeria. However, we will push for that and use the fact that Nigeria is opening up democratically to civil society and exploit democracy in that regard.

Mr. Jellali:
If irrigation needs and power generation needs are competing with each other in a region, then it certainly makes the irrigation water more expensive. This is where one needs regulation to control that. If I could revisit the issue of donors, I think that donors can positively reinforce a project if they are qualified and know what they are doing. It is true that all are institutions but within the staff member who is sent from the donor agency to work with the local government, there is flexibility. Hence, I would like to emphasise that the role of that individual is significant for they have the ability to prioritise cases. Moreover, if you are a country that is under surveillance for signs of economic recovery, then your options are limited. It basically comes down to a question between the haves and have-nots.

Summary of panel 3b

The panel discussion focused on issues ranging from bottom-up decision-making to the role that women can play in these decision-making processes. These issues include the following:

• There is a real need for women's participation in the decision-making process. Even though they usually bear the brunt of the decisions, their voices are often excluded from the discussion.



• It is often up to the affected communities themselves to defend their rights and to make sure that their opinions and voices are heard and acted upon by the river authorities.



• A regulatory framework should be established to ensure that competing water needs be adequately and fairly addressed, eg irrigation needs versus power generation needs.



• Donor agencies often play dual roles when it comes to the development of a region. They can be advantageous to the region if the agency sends officers who are qualified and know what they are doing. On the other hand, if a country is being monitored for economic recovery, then their options can become quite limited in that a kind of dictatorship can result.