Facilitating dialogue to balance economic, social and environmental performance
Central to the MRC's work is the assistance it provides to Member Countries to help them understand and balance the impact of hydropower on the Mekong. In this role it facilitates dialogue among the major stakeholders, providing them with an opportunity to raise issues and express concerns regarding the building of dams in the basin.
A series of meetings for parties involved in hydropower development and policy making including the Member Countries, civil society, NGOs, pressure groups and other interested parties were conducted throughout 2008 and early 2009.
Consultation with stakeholders on the proposed mainstream hydropower schemes has been reinforced to include gathering the views of communities and villagers, particularly through the Basin Development Programme.
Apart from dialogue with National Mekong Committees, line agencies, and the regulatory bodies major events with other stakeholders have included:
Dialogue with Hydropower Developers
- Briefing Meeting with Developers and Line-Agencies, 29 May 2008, Lao PDR
- Briefing Meeting with Developers and Line-Agencies, 29 May 2009, Cambodia
Dialogue with Civil Society and Non-Government Organizations
- The Regional Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on MRC Hydropower Programme held in September 2008, Vientiane, Lao PDR
- "Mekong Mainstream Dams: People's Voices Across Borders," 12-13 November, 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
- "Dam Affected People's Forum," 2-3 Dec ember 2008, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- "National Workshop on Understanding Fisheries and Livelihoods in Cambodia and the Proposed Don Sahong Dam, 16 June 2009, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Over the next 14-months the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of mainstream dams will be an important avenue for multi-stakeholder dialogue on the major challenges in advancing sustainable hydropower.
The SEA will provide a basin-wide framework of analysis linking decision driving hydropower to IWRM basin development aims. All such proposals are subject to a 'prior consultation' process among member countries which aims at reaching agreement on whether or not they should proceed and under what conditions.
Choose a newsletter: