How does the Forum process relate to the World Commission on Dams?
The World Commission on Dams (WCD) was an extensive review of the performance of large dams conducted between 1998 and 2000, based on a process of submissions, hearings, surveys and case studies, out of which was proposed a new framework for decision-making for the water and energy sectors. UNEP’s Dams & Development Project (DDP) was a six-year follow up to the WCD, and resulted in a consensus around the Core Values and the Strategic Priorities of WCD, on which the IHA Sustainability Guidelines and Protocol build. The Forum is not an attempt to duplicate or re-write the WCD outcomes. Unlike WCD, it is not a Commission reviewing performance of a sector. The HSAF is a cross-sector collaboration looking at an existing performance measurement tool and proposing enhancements. It draws on WCD Core Values and Strategic Priorities, along with other existing principles and policies, in its work to develop a practical assessment tool for hydropower sustainability. In response to requests of stak
