15 October 2001
South African Review of the WCD Report
Progress Note at 15 October 2001

South african review Of the World Commission on Dams Report

Progress Note at 15 October 2001

Introduction

On 23/24 July 2001, the Symposium on the World Commission on Dams Report: Dams and Development – A New Framework for Decision Makers was convened in Midrand, Gauteng. This was a multi-stakeholder forum to discuss the implications for South Africa of the report of the World Commission on Dams. Wide ranging representation was present from government, NGOs, affected parties, sector professionals, academia and financing and research institutions.  There was much sharing of information and vigorous debate in the working groups and plenary sessions.  Noteworthy was the airing for the first time in general public debate of the grievances of affected communities originating from the 1970’s construction of Gariep Dam and the Minister of Water Affairs’ commitment to attend to at least some of these.

The overall consensus of the meeting was broad support for the strategic priorities outlined in the WCD Report. It was clear however that these guidelines needed to be contextualised in the South African situation and that there should be a way forward to achieve this. The symposium consequently decided to elect an interim multi-stakeholder steering committee (SC) to prepare a plan for achieving the objectives as set out in the Symposium Resolutions. Two representatives from each sector were chosen by the six sectors identified in the plenary session, namely: NGOs affected communities, government, private sector, utilities and financing and research.

The Symposium Resolutions were as follows:

Resolution 1

This Symposium declares itself to be broadly supportive of the strategic priorities outline in the WCD report, but believes that the guidelines need to be contextualised in the South African situation.

This Symposium recommend that a steering committee, elected at this Symposium, be tasked with the process of convening a series of meetings of the steering committee at which proposals will be drafted about:

• The composition of a co-ordinating committee
• The agenda of such a committee
• The timeframes for reporting back to a multi-stakeholder forum of this nature

The work of the steering committee must be completed by the end of October 2001, and its outputs must be communicated, appropriately and adequately, to all participants in this Symposium for agreement.

Resolution 2

Noted that the resolution was proposed and drafted by the SADC Water Sector Coordinating Unit and NAWISA – the Network for Advocacy of Water Issues in Southern Africa.

This Symposium supports the process of taking the WCD guidelines further in the Southern Africa context. We recommend that the SADC Water Sector Coordinating Unit, together with NAWISA – the Network for Advocacy of Water Issues in Southern Africa, initiate such a process and include the various stakeholders in that process.

We support ongoing national processes insofar as those processes include stakeholders in a balanced way.

The Steering Committee’s First Meeting

The SC convened on 15 October 2001.  Having chosen an interim convenor, it first sought a common understanding of the mandate it had been given in the resolution of the Symposium. It was clear that the mandate of the Interim SC is for Resolution 1, and not Resolution 2, which applies more broadly to the whole SADC Region.

Preliminary agreement was reached on the following:

• The task of the SC is to design a process through which the maximum participation of stakeholders can be achieved in identifying and contextualising those elements of the WCD report that should be implemented in South Africa;
• The SC’s output would be expressed in a plan that would be taken to attendees at the symposium and possibly a wider interest group for approval;
• An extensive analysis of the past performance with the implementation of dams in South Africa relative to the strategies and guidelines recommended in the WCD Report would be too time-consuming and resource-intensive;
• The process should consider the report in the South African context, identify those elements that can benefit South Africa and make recommendations for change to all institutions concerned with the implementation of dams and which, in the case of government, could include legislation, regulations and policy;
• While representation on the SC was reasonable for the process design the SC would have to apply its mind to broadening and deepening representation through the identification of possible additional stakeholders and mechanisms that could allow stakeholders groups to consult and caucus; and
• If the process of participation were to be equitable and balanced those sectors or institutions that lacked financial resources would have to be assisted through the process.

Brian Hollingworth
Interim Convenor: Steering Committee