6 November 2000
Launch in Islamabad, Pakistan, Nov. 18

Who: WCD Secretariat
What: Presentation of Final Report "Dams and Development"
When: 2.30 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday 18 November 2000. Press briefing 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Where: SDPI Office, Islamabad
Why: The WCD has, by international mandate, (1) reviewed the development effectiveness of large dams and assess alternatives; (2) developed a framework for assessing options and decision-making processes for water resources, energy services and development; and (3) developed internationally-acceptable criteria and guidelines for planning, designing, construction, operation, monitoring, and decommissioning of dams.

Twenty nine months after its birth, twenty-three months after a regional consultation in Colombo, twenty-one months after it began its global programme of case studies, twelve months after starting a Cross-Check survey of 45 dams in Asia and Australia, and five months after reading 338 submissions from the region, the World Commission on Dams has completed its work.

To fulfil its mandate, the Commission will present its comprehensive global analysis, independent findings and authoritative criteria and guidelines for action in Islamabad on 18 November, with a goal of turning controversies of the past into consensus for the future.

"The proof of the pudding is always in the eating," said WCD Chair Kader Asmal. "So the real test of our work will be whether our report helps countries meet the day-to-day needs of our thirsty, hungry citizens without exhausting the waters that sustain us all. The measure of our progress over the last two years is how practical and useful our collective work has been for all. Only then will it endure."

A multitude of studies, reviews, surveys and reports provided inputs to the WCD Final Report. They concerned the planning, decision making, performance, construction, operation and decommissioning of large dams. The Commission then used them to frame criteria and guidelines that can guide future decisions on water and energy development options.

Each major study, report, review and survey prepared for the WCD has been rigorously peer-reviewed by the primary interests involved. In the case of the Tarbela dam in Pakistan, for example, that includes review and comments by government agencies, civil society organisations and external financiers. Not all reviewers will agree with the conclusions drawn by the authors of the case study. Where significant differences remain, these are noted and the full text of comments are reproduced for all parties to consider. In the interest of transparency, participation and inclusiveness, WCD distributes the report to the public, partners, participants and media, and posts it on its web site: www.dams.org.

"Some interests on both sides of the dams and development debate seem to feel that the research that goes into the WCD somehow, by itself, passes judgement, or makes recommendations," said Secretary General Achim Steiner. "It in fact does neither. Only one document embodies the values of and speaks with one voice from the Commission, and that is our Final Report, which will only be released in London on November 16."

The Commission's Final Report, to be presented in Islamabad on 18 November, will not tell either the people or governments what to do about future or existing dams. It will, however, provide clear evidence, historic context and step-by-step framework from which they can carefully develop scarce natural resources together to meet local and national development needs.

"Just as our journey ends, the real work of translation into action begins," said Kader Asmal. "We have fulfilled our mandate. We have learned hard lessons from the past, listened to voices hitherto unheard, and offered a new framework for decision making."