Perception Gaps among Stakeholders Regarding the WCD Guidelines

In the World Commission on Dams (WCD) two-part report "Dams and Development," Part I reports fact-findings on large dams, and Part II proposes 26 guidelines for dam development projects. The WCD, however, has not succeeded in proposing a set of practical guidelines. As a model for global governance of a controversial environmental issue it also failed. Consequently, a large gap has emerged among the report's evaluations by various stakeholders. Most of the environmentally concerned non-governmental organizations (NGO) appreciated the guidelines and demanded their adoption by governments and financial institutions. Some governments and dam construction companies, however, were negative and/or skeptical, particularly concerning the guidelines' applicability. These groups feel that the following aspects have not been adequately clarified: 1) coverage of the guidelines; 2) whether the 26 guidelines should be considered as one entity; and, 3) whether all parties should have veto power. To make the guidelines widely acceptable and realistic as a model of global governance in the environmental fields, the authors recommend a review of the report and guidelines with the aims of: 1) clarifying the character of the report and guidelines; and, 2) examining the practicability of the guidelines.