Response to the Final Report:

Southern African communities and non-governmental organisations

Southern African Call to Action
23 November 2000

We, the communities and non-governmental organisations present at the Southern African Preparatory Meeting for the regional launch of the World Commission on Dams Report in November 2000, endorse the Global Call to Action which includes the following:

We note and appreciate that the WCD report vindicates many concerns raised by NGO campaigns. Given the role of financial institutions in funding large dams in the WCD process, and based on the WCD Report´s recommendations \we call on all public financial institutions, including the World bank, the Regional Development Banks, the export credit agencies and bilateral agencies (as well as governments and relevant authorities where applicable), to take the following actions

1. All public financial institutions should immediately and comprehensively adopt the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams, and should integrate them into their relevant policies, in particular those on water and energy development, environmental impact assessment, resettlement, and public participation. In particular, as recommended by the WCD, no project should proceed without the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples, and without the demonstrable public acceptance all those who would be affected by the project.
2. All public finance institutions should immediately establish independent, transparent and participatory reviews of all their planned and ongoing dam projects. Whilst such reviews are taking place, project preparation and construction should be halted. Such reviews should establish whether the respective dams comply, as a minimum, with the recommendations of the WCD. If they do not, projects should be modified accordingly or be stopped altogether.
3. All institutions which share in the responsibility for unresolved negative impacts of dams should immediately initiate a process to establish and fund mechanisms to provide reparations to affected communities that have suffered social, cultural and economic harm as a result of dam projects.
4. All public financial institutions should place a moratorium on funding the planning or construction of new dams until they can demonstrate that they have complied with the above measures.

Additionally, and in view of the corruption scandal that has plagued the planning and construction of the Lesotho highlands Water Project, we call on financial institutions, governments and relevant authorities to blacklist corrupt companies with immediate effect.

Lastly, and as a direct result of the inequity between those communities who pay the costs of large dams, and those who benefit from these same dams, we strongly urge for affected communities to be direct beneficiaries if existing dam projects.

Signed by:

1. Moshe Tsehlo Lesotho Council of NGOs (Lesotho)
2. Motselisi Ntsoelikane Federation of Women’s Lawyers (Lesotho)
3. Bothata Tsikoane Rural Self Help development Association (Lesotho)
4. Mothusi Seqhee Transformation Resource Centre (Lesotho)
5. JM Lenka Transformation Resource Centre (Lesotho)
6. SL Mabula Lesotho Durhata Link (LDL) (Lesotho)
7. M Makatoko Lesotho Red Cross Society (Lesotho)
8. M Koali Lesotho Blue Cross Society (Lesotho)
9. TS Phori Lesotho Youth Federation (Lesotho)
10. TS Morfoa RHRED Alex (South Africa)
11. Thabang Kholumo Highlands Church Action Group (Lesotho)
12. Komene Brown Community Legal Resource and Advice Centre (Lesotho)
13. S Moeketsi Lesotho Young Christian Students (LYCS) (Lesotho)
14. AL Mtsike Lesotho NGO Credit Centre (Lesotho)
15. RB Maphasa Lesotho Blue Cross Society (Lesotho)
16. VJ Manzana Gariep & Van der Kloof Community (South Africa)
17. Sara Mbalula Gariep & Van der Kloof Community (South Africa)
18. Jane Natu Gariep & Van der Kloof Community (South Africa)
19. Mirriam Kibi Gariep & Van der Kloof Community (South Africa)
20. Xolile Kweleta Gariep & Van der Kloof Community (South Africa)
21. Zinikele Ngesi Gariep & Van der Kloof Community (South Africa)
22. Jane Ngxabazi Gariep & Van der Kloof Community (South Africa)
23. Johny Mphou RHREDI Alexandra (South Africa)
24. Bryan Ashe Earthlife Africa Durban (South Africa)
25. Liane Greeff Environmental Monitoring Group (South Africa)
26. Paulos Gwala SANCO (KZN, South Africa)
27. L Shena Qadi Tribe (KZN, South Africa)
28. Maxwell Meyiwa Ngcolosi Tribe (KZN, South Africa)
29. Elliot Nxumalo Yonge Nawe Environmental Organisation (Swaziland)

Liane Greeff - Environmental Monitoring Group - South Africa