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The Challenge of Enhancing Public Participation on Dams and Development: A case for evaluation
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The Challenge of Enhancing Public Participation on Dams and Development: A case for evaluation

Claudia Baldwin and V Twyford
International Journal of Public Participation, Vol.1(2)
2007
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Abstract

Policy and Administration Applied Ethics public participation dams evaluation
This paper reports on the outcomes of a review of 13 cases studies of public participation in dam and development activities undertaken globally for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Dams and Development Program (DDP). Document analysis and questionnaire surveys were used to identify good examples of public participation as well as evolving practise in developing countries. Key issues about participation practise are discussed, such as defining stakeholders; using techniques appropriate for purpose and for stakeholders; the role of interaction and deliberation and their application in cases in which the literacy level of participants is low; and a fundamental need for supporting legislation and guidelines. In particular, the review highlights the critical need for independent and comprehensive evaluation of stakeholder participation if practise is to improve and stakeholder participation is to be more widely implemented. An evaluation framework including criteria for assessing processes, outputs, outcomes, and impacts early in the process is recommended. Conducting an independent evaluation is critical to claiming credibility about the benefits of participation.

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