Ripple Effects:
Norway

Assessing Compliance At Home and Abroad

Few countries have been as actively involved in supporting the World Commission on Dams work processes and work product as Norway.

Perhaps this should not surprise, given that the country depends almost 100 percent on hydroelectricity and since dam-related technology and expertise is one of the country's leading exports.

Early on, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributed $720,000 to help get the WCD up and running, and the country also welcomed an in-depth case study of Glommen and Laagen Dams.

Through NORAD's facilitation, interested stakeholders from government, industry, dam operators and civil society established an informal working group to contribute to and comment on the WCD's work programme.

This group recently also contributed to developing the WCD's thematic review on regulation, compliance and implementation.

The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, NVE, arranged a seminar with 11 representatives from the authorities, dam owners, landowners and NGOs to discuss and review the WCD draft thematic.

In constructively criticising the thematic, members of the group often found themselves occupying common ground, agreeing on broad issues such as strategic roles and responsibilities of authorities and, as they moved toward specific practical planning steps, or certification, issues where they agreed to disagree.

Norway has expressed keen interest in the WCD Final Report to contribute to a domestic dialogue as well as a review of criteria and guidelines for future financing of dams in development programmes.