29 March 2001
WCD Wins 2001 Institutional Award from International Association of Impact Assessment
Global, 2,500 member organisation recognises WCD's review of environmental, social impacts and recommendations to incorporate impact assessment into decision-making

The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) has selected the World Commission on Dams to receive the IAIA Institutional Award, to be presented in Cartagena, Colombia later this year.

This year's Institution Award recognises the WCD "for its contribution to the policy debate about the environmental and social impacts of large infrastructure projects, and for urging that due consideration be given to incorporation of impact assessment in consideration of any project."

IAIA is a global umbrella organisation of environmental decision-makers and impact assessment specialists and practitioners, with 2,500 members in over 100 nations around the globe. It is a forum for advancing innovation, development and communication of best practice in impact assessment. Its international membership promotes development of local and global capacity for the application of environmental assessment in which sound science and full public participation provide a foundation for equitable an sustainable development.

The upcoming meeting in Cartagena will be a landmark in the organisation's history as the first meeting held in South America, and will expect a turout of 1,000 people from over 80 nations.

"On behalf of the Commission, I am delighted and honoured to accept this generous award," said WCD Chair Prof. Kader Asmal. "When a group of professional peers - and in this case the world's leading experts in the field of impact assessment - makes such an award it is a particularly valued tribute. I use the word tribute to recognise that the WCD was a collective effort- involving so many across very deep divides of experience and perspectives. To nevertheless be recognised in this way by IAIA is thus also a celebration of the triumph of hard-won and pragmatic consensus over ongoing conflict or paralysis."