How can we reduce poverty in developing countries unless we exploit all available power sources, including hydro?
Like other investments, funding for the power sector in developing countries is limited. Better processes for selecting energy projects can help avoid the political favoritism (and even bribery) that now often influences the decision-making process, and too often leads to white-elephant dams being built. The World Commission on Dams, an international panel that provided the first independent and comprehensive assessment of dams, devised an approach to dam-planning in which affected communities negotiate their own compensation packages, and become primary beneficiaries of dam projects’ benefits. Dams planned using the commission’s recommendations and guidelines are more likely to go forward only after carefully analyzing all available options, and through a fair and transparent planning process. A few countries – for example, South Africa – have taken steps to incorporate the WCD’s recommendations into their planning processes for water and energy projects.
Related Questions
- Bad weather, political upheaval and power outages are not uncommon in developing countries. How do you respond to issues of safety and security if such events occur?
- How do these youth transitions impact poverty reduction in developing countries?
- Does openness reduce wage inequality in developing countries?
