IFC and International Centre for Hydropower Team Up to Promote Social Aspects of Sustainability
IFC and the International Centre for Hydropower (ICH) held a one-week regional course in Hanoi in October to increase understanding of social processes and practices in hydropower development.
“Developers, lenders and consultants that understand affected community livelihoods and needs from an early stage have a better chance of achieving good social practices throughout project lives,” said Laura Bull, Head of Studies at the Norway-based International Centre for Hydropower.
The course, attended by industry professionals from Lao PDR, Nepal, Bhutan, Indonesia, the Philippines, the U.S., and Vietnam, provided practical advice and tools to build know-how among hydropower professionals. Environmental and social experts from India, Norway, the Philippines and the U.S. shared experiences and first-hand knowledge from projects throughout Asia.
Social impact assessments provide project managers with detailed information, including household-level data, which is the foundation to understand project impacts. This helps to plan adequate services, improve infrastructure, and provide appropriate compensation for affected communities. The assessments include insight on how communities make their living, their livelihood strategies and vulnerabilities, and offers management plans to mitigate and address future changes.
“Social impact assessments require deep-dive studies on affected community livelihoods, including the role women play,” said Abhishek Singh, IFC Social Development Specialist. “Achieving social sustainability in hydropower projects requires inclusive partnerships, innovation, and viewing projects through the lens of stakeholders affected.”
Course participants received training on IFC’s Performance Standards, which provides a framework to meet good international and industry environmental and social practices for their projects. Topics such as labor and working conditions, health impact assessments, land acquisition, stakeholder engagement, indigenous peoples’ rights, and respecting cultural heritage were discussed.
Participants also had an opportunity to visit the Trung Sơn Dam on the Ma River in Northwestern Vietnam, developed by Vietnam Electricity and supported by the World Bank. How the project carried out its resettlement action plan and addressed community livelihood impacts were among the areas of focus during the visit.
“Our trainings are hands on, providing interactive sessions with case studies,” said Kate Lazarus, IFC senior operations officer for environmental and social standards in the hydropower sector.
In 2016, IFC and ICH will continue efforts to build capacity of the hydropower industry. Together, they will organize a course on cumulative impact assessment and management of hydropower projects located in river basins where other development takes place.
For more information on courses that IFC offers on environmental and social standards in the hydropower sector, contact Kate Lazarus.
