1. Promoting Good Practice for Hydropower – a role for ECAs Dr Ute Collier Global Freshwater Programme WWF International

2. Huge potential in developing world Multi-purpose nature of many dams Indigenous source, doesn’t require energy imports Often requires major resettlement Major local environmental impacts Downstream ecosystem and livelihoods impacts Cumulative impacts of multiple dams in a basin The hydropower dilemma

3. Rivers at Risk

4. Dam impacts © WWF/Ute Collier

5. Livelihoods at stake © WWF-Canon/Michèle DÉPRAZ

6. The legacy of bad resettlement Based on Scudder, 2005

7. Project example Ermenek dam lack of public consultation severe shortcomings in EIA lack of options assessment inadequate mitigation measures © WWF Turkey

8. A rights and risks approach WCD Strategic priorities for decision-making 1.Public acceptance 2.Comprehensive options assessment 3.Existing dams 4.Sustaining rivers and livelihoods 5.Entitlements and sharing benefits 6.Compliance 7.Transboundary rivers

9. Broad support for the WCD decision-making framework US Ex-Im Swiss ERG Coface OPIC HSBC EU linking directive IHA sustainability guidelines Country dialogues – e.g. South Africa, Nepal, Vietnam

10. Opportunities for improving on WB safeguards WB OPs are ‘catch all’, not specific to complex, large hydro projects WCD specific attention to downstream impacts, river basin approach, environmental flows WCD resettlement recommendations require improvement of living standards, not just compensation Resettlement Action Plan written into loan conditions

11. Conclusions Reputational risk associated with hydro remains large ECAs need to demonstrate that there can be ‘good’ hydro project WCD decision-making framework widely recognised as best practice Should be seen as opportunity, not constraint

12. THANK YOU! ucollier@wwf.org.uk www.panda.org/dams © WWF-Canon/ Zeb Hogan