14 April 2000
WCD Crosses Critical Pass
Forum agrees to reconvene in early 2001 to discuss widespread dissemination

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - After an 18 month uphill climb, the World Commission on Dams passed a critical juncture in its history, caught its breath under the watchful eye of the Forum, built up new momentum and began the downhill sprint toward the fast-approaching mid-November finish.

Following intense, co-operative advance meetings between industry and NGOs, the real work began: 56 institutions in 34 countries received, absorbed, debated and set plans to disseminate the broad knowledge base contained in the 128 new documents produced by the WCD.

The Forum, born out of the same polar tensions that created the WCD, acts as a sounding board and advisory group to the Commission. The Cape Town conference marked the first time the two had convened since April 1998, and represented the Forum's first real test of the WCD's direction, intellectual rigor, work integrity, and political credibility. It passed the test.

The compressed, two-day gathering included a wide representation of top executives and leaders from governments (like the US or Sri Lanka), industry (ICOLD, ICID), development agencies (World Bank), private contractors (Siemens, Hydro Quebec) financial institutions (ADB), non-governmental organisations (IRN, WWF) and peoples affected by dams.

All parties agreed to explore the possibilities for a third Forum meeting, in the first quarter of 2001, to discuss implementation of the body of evidence behind the Final Report and the possibilities for turning abstract documents into real changes on rivers.

"The Commission has been in 'listening mode' during this meeting, and I assure you that we have listened - sometimes painfully- but always with an open mind," said WCD Chair Kader Asmal. On behalf of the Commission, Asmal welcomed both criticism and the promise of future efforts to carry on the work begun by WCD after it officially dissolves in November.

"But the Final Report will not satisfy everyone on all points," he cautioned in closing remarks. "The Commission will not dilute its content, or simply pander to vested interests on either side of the debate. We have been and will remain independent. As such, we shall develop practical responses to the issues that generated the Commission in the first place. Many of you have said that you cannot commit to buying the report "site unseen." Others, like the industry group, the African Development Bank, and the UNEP have committed to its dissemination well in advance. All of this gives us momentum to take your ideas, submissions, criticisms and internalise them as we move to complete the Final Report."