Ripple Effects:
Germany

Building a Network

Germany's Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ) was among the first government agencies to commit funds towards the mandate and work of the WCD.

For as the young WCD grew, an informal network of Germany's government agencies, private sector and civil society organisations grew with it, and met several times during the past 2 years, building momentum.

Specifically, Germany's principal development agencies, GTZ and KfW, commissioned a special report as a submission to the WCD that assessed the effectiveness of development funding for dams.

Next, WEED, a German NGO and active member of the network, created a focal point within its organisation to participate in the WCD process as well assist NGO networks in Germany and abroad to bring their voices and knowledge to the Commission.

Then industry got involved. Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation, a company with significant interests in the hydro sector, played a significant role in mobilising information and know-how for the WCD - both directly and through the informal 'WCD industry group' thereby encouraging other companies to follow.

Together these institutions have begun to think through how the results of the Commission can be taken up in the national context. The possibility of government agencies, the private sector and NGOs coming together in a process to review the criteria for future financing of dams through development aid and export credit guarantees is now a very real one.

Should this dialogue succeed it will send an important signal to other OECD countries assessing their potential responses to the WCD recommendations.