6 October 2000
A Milestone in the History of Dams and Development
Commission finalises Global Report, to be released by Nelson Mandela in London

After an intense and at times dramatic process of reviewing the world's experience with large dams, the WCD announced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Amman, Jordan, that all 12 members of the Commission, representing public, private and civil society perspectives have signed a unanimous report. The report due to be released on November 16th will propose a new framework for decision making in water and energy resources management.

The announcement concludes two years of worldwide research and consultation, making the WCD the most comprehensive global and independent assessment of dams ever undertaken. More than 45,000 large dams have been built to date which include some of the largest infrastructure investments ever undertaken in a country. Through case studies, peer reviews, impartial outreach, and rigorous independent analysis the Commission has assessed their technical, financial, environmental and social performance. Its work programme involved thousands of people and hundreds of dams across the world, to learn the lessons of the past and develop guidelines for future decision making.

In announcing the completion of its work the WCD has succeeded in fulfilling a difficult mandate with a unanimous report on time, and under budget.

The final moment of the WCD comes when it launches the published Final Report with Nelson Mandela as patron and guest of honour in London. Confirmed keynote addresses at the ceremony include:

• IUCN's Director General Maritta Koch-Weser


• World Bank President Jim Wolfensohn


• the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, and


• HRH Prince William of Orange, patron of the World Water Forum

The launch at Cabot Hall, London on the 16th of November 2000 will be followed immediately by a series of regional launches in Bangkok, New Delhi, New York, Sao Paulo and Cape Town. With the release of the report the Commission disbands, and passes the torch to its many partners for implementation and action.

"Just as our journey ends, the real work begins," said WCD Chair Professor Kader Asmal, South Africa's Minister of Education, and former Minister of Water and Forestry Affairs under Nelson Mandela. " We have carried out an ambitious work programme to help societies meet the needs of their thirsty constituents without exhausting the waters that sustain us all. The criteria and guidelines we propose for future decision making in water and energy resources management are both far-reaching and common sense. When and why common sense prevails to bring economic, environmental and social objectives into balance have been central questions of our global review".

There were some who did not believe the World Commission on Dams would meet more than once, much less nine times on five continents. In two years it drew upon:

• More than 900 submissions on experiences with large dams from 79 countries


• Ten case studies in five regions that provide an in-depth study and analysis about why dams were built and how they have performed in their national, temporal and natural context


• A survey of 125 dams in 56 countries in a broad, 'family portrait' of dams as a whole


• Four consultations held in Sri Lanka, Egypt, Brazil and Vietnam which gave voice to individual views about dams and attracted 1,400 participants from 59 countries


• Seventeen thematic reviews on all major aspects of the dams debate by 130 writers in 25 countries


• Input from 68 organisations from 34 countries represented on the WCD Forum who monitor the Commission's work and activities


• Financial contributions from 53 organisations, establishing an unprecedented funding model for Commissions supported by governments, NGO's, corporations and foundations

'The Commission's report is a milestone in the history of dams and development', said Achim Steiner, WCD's Secretary General. 'In building on the work of many others in the past it provides a new framework; a touchstone for all interest groups to use in the future when debating and assessing dams as one option in development.'