Strengthening Pathways for Rights-Based Approaches in Mekong Hydropower: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Growth

Abstract

Hydropower development contributes significantly to economic growth. How benefits from this growth can be distributed more equitably while ensuring that the rights of those most directly affected by the dam project, including the poorest and most marginalized groups within the community (by gender and ethnicity), are protected is key for sustainable growth and inclusive development. Strengthening rights-based approaches in hydropower decision making is crucial to ensure that hydropower development also contributes to sustainable growth and inclusive development. The project will look at how current approaches and institutional set up in hydropower development (regionally, nationally, locally) set the pretext for alternative pathways for strengthening rights-based approaches in water governance in general and with regard to hydropower decision making in particular. It aims to identify pathways to strengthen rights-based approaches in hydropower decision making across scales. In particular, it will: 1) unpack local community’s views on water (in)security and strategies to strengthen their water rights towards equitable access to water; and 2) connect these views and strategies with formal hydropower decision-making structures, processes, and practices at national and transboundary level. Bringing to light the important role played by local community in bridging the current disjuncture in hydropower decision making across scales, the project will incorporate gender, social equity and social justice lenses in the overall analysis.