Turning the WCD into Action in South Africa

By: 
Terri Hathaway
Date: 
Wednesday, December 1, 2004

Nearly 100 delegates representing government, the private sector, NGOs, affected communities, utilities and others came together on October 13–14 for the fourth and final forum of the South African Multi–Stakeholder Initiative on the World Commission on Dams in Johannesburg. The objectives of this Initiative were to broadly contextualize the WCD report and to make recommendations on its implementation in South Africa. The multi–stakeholder method promoted a collaborative and consensual response. The group’s final report is expected to be ready for distribution in early 2005.

South Africa is the first country to move so far and so collaboratively on implementing the WCD. Said Brian Hollingsworth, the Initiative’s facilitator, "It has been possible to finalize the report because of the work of people with many differing views of the issues but who are all dedicated to improving dam practice in South Africa."