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1 November 2001
Dams And Development Project Established
Support for national and local multi-stakeholder dialogue to address the issues raised by the World Commission on Dams

On 1 November 2001, the Dams and Development Project (DDP) started operation. The DDP promotes and supports inclusive and informed multi-stakeholder dialogue on the issues raised by the World Commission on Dams report at local, national and global levels to achieve sustainable development in the water and energy sectors. It is a project of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) under the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation http://www.unep.org/PolicyDivision/ .

The preliminary DDP Steering Committee met for the first time on 16 September 2001 to approve governance arrangements, objectives and work programme. It has now initiated the expansion of its membership to fourteen members. The second meeting of the Committee is scheduled for early December where the composition and role of the wider Dams and Development Forum will be discussed. A first meeting of the DD Forum is tentatively scheduled for March 2001. Broad financial support for the DDP is planned with initial backing from Germany, Sweden and UK to be joined by other countries, industry, foundations and NGOs.

The objectives of the DDP are to:

  • support the widespread dissemination of the WCD report and related products;
  • support country-level, regional and global dialogues on the report and the issues it addresses;
  • strengthen interaction and networking among participants in the dams debate with the aim of engaging all stakeholders in the dialogue; and
  • facilitate the flow of information and advice concerning initiatives relevant to the WCD report.

    The mandate of the DDP excludes it from taking positions or making judgements on individual projects or associated practices.

    The work programme of the DDP can be read online here.

    Five professional staff and four support staff will form the core team of the DDP. The professional staff, with broad inter-disciplinary experience, will be recruited internationally following standard UNEP procedures. Job advertisements will also appear on the DDP website before the end of November. To lead the preliminary tasks of the DDP, Jeremy Bird has been appointed by UNEP as an interim Co-ordinator.


    The DDP website, www.unep-dams.org went live on 11 November 2001. It will include dissemination material, national and local reactions to the report, follow-on developments within various regions and institutions, and specific examples of emerging good practice. The existing WCD site, www.dams.org will be kept running for several years as a record of the work of the World Commission on Dams.

    The contact details of the DDP are:

    Postal address:
    UNEP Dams and Development Project
    P.O. Box 16002
    Vlaeberg
    Cape Town 8018
    South Africa

    Street address:
    UNEP Dams and Development Project
    5th Floor, Hycastle House
    58 Loop Street, Vlaeberg
    Cape Town
    South Africa

    Tel: +27-21-426 4000
    Fax: +27-21-426 0036
    email: info@unep-dams.org

    Steering Committee membership (as of 31 October 2001)

    Current members:
    CategoryOrganisationRepresentative
    Multilateral agenciesWorld BankA. Palmieri
    International NGOIUCNG. Bergkamp
    Government (policy level)National Water Agency, BrazilB. Braga
    Government (project/basin level)Lesotho Highlands Development ProjectR. Mochebelele
    International NGO (advocacy)International Rivers NetworkP. McCully
    Affected peoples organisationNarmada Bachao Andolan, IndiaS. Dharmadhikary
    Industry/private sectorMontgomery Watson HarzaR. Abdel-Malek
    Indigenous peoplesTebtebba Foundation, Philippines J. Carino
    Bilateral agenciesBMZ, GermanyM. Konukiewitz
    Host organisationUNEPD. Kaniaru

    Categories for which a nomination process has been initiated:
    Utilities, owners, operators
    Professional associations (international)
    Research organisations
    Organisations working on options

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