Sharing the water, sharing the benefits: Lessons from six large dams in West Africa

A new publication, jointly developed by IUCN, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), and the Institut de Recherches et d’Applications des Méthodes de développement (IRAM), reviewed detailed experiences from six dams in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal through the lens of benefit-sharing and compiled these into the report 'Sharing the water, sharing the benefits: Lessons from six large dams in West Africa'.

Lessons from six large dams in West Africa

Over 150 large dams have been built in West Africa over the last 50 years. Many more are in the planning stages to meet the region’s demands for energy, water and food and their reservoirs will displace many thousands of local people. Success in resettling affected people and in rebuilding their livelihoods has been mixed in the region. This publication reviews detailed experience from six dams in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal through the lens of “benefit sharing” with local populations, which asks to what extent the affected communities have indeed benefited from the dam and how the multiple positive consequences from water use have been shared between different actors. The lessons learned from these experiences can guide future decision making.

Source: IUCN
To get a copy: IIED

Related content: Hydro 2009 International Conference and Exhibition: Progress, Potential and Plans; 15th German Dam Symposium; INBO 8th World General Assembly, Adapting to the consequences of climate change in the basins: Tools for action; Dam Safety 2008; Special issue of Marine & Freshwater Research Journal features Conservation Management of Rivers under Climate Change; Hydropower Africa 2011; Workshop: Reinforcement of the capacities for the improvement of the productivity of water on the level of the farms with AquaCrop

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Sharing the water, sharing the benefits: Lessons from six large dams in West Africa

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