The World Commission on Dams (1998-2000) styled itself as an 'experiment in global public policy-making,' an institution of multiple stakeholders intended to address the development dynamics of a globalizing world.

Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (Tanzania), Lokayan (India) and World Resources Institute (USA) are carrying out an independent assessment of the World Commission on Dams (WCD) to evaluate the implications of its experience for future public policy-making.

The Commission was set up to produce:

• A global review of the development effectiveness of large dams;
• A framework for assessing water and energy options;
• Internationally acceptable guidelines for the planning, design, construction, operation and decommissioning of large dams.

Its final report "Dams and Development" was completed in November 2000.

The Commission aimed to generate the knowledge and political will to support its final report through an independent, transparent and inclusive two-year process. Participants in the process included dam-building companies, multilateral development banks, affected peoples' groups and other non-governmental organizations, private consultants, and the public at large.

The high aspirations on which the process was founded ensure that the Commission's experience holds implications for future global policy-making efforts. Failure of the Commission to implement effectively good governance principles, or their failure to contribute to a positive outcome, could undermine the legitimacy of these principles as a basis for future efforts at global policy making. Success could amplify the calls for non-transparent and relatively closed institutions to adopt new norms of global governance. Our research aims to provide an assessment of the WCD process to inform future global public policy-making efforts.

Please give us your views on the track record of the World Commission on Dams by completing our survey.

SURVEY (Please print and fax to 202-729-7759)

1. How did you first find out about the WCD? How have you or your organization been involved with large dams?

2. How did you contribute to the WCD process? Check one or more of the following choices. Please indicate the frequency you undertook each of the activities (for example, "provided comments on thematic---twice, ecosystems thematic")

[ ] Provided comments to Commission on formulation of the workplan---how many case studies, thematics there should be, which ones, etc.

[ ] Attended Prague Forum meeting (1999).

[ ] Attended Cape Town Forum meeting (2000).

[ ] Attended regional or country consultation of the WCD (specify which meeting)

[ ] Gave presentation at regional or country consultation of the WCD (specify which meeting)

[ ] Served as an official reviewer or consultant for a thematic, case study or other part of the WCD's knowledge base (which one?)

[ ] Provided comments to the Secretariat regarding a thematic, case study or other part of the WCD's knowledge base (which one?)

[ ] Made general submission to the Commission (specify which topic)

[ ] Disseminated information about the WCD within your own organization

[ ] Disseminated information about the WCD within your larger professional network or constituency

[ ] Other (please specify)

[ ] None of the above

3. Do you think the Commission was responsive to your concerns in its formulation of the knowledge base? How?

4. Do you think the Commission was responsive to your concerns in its formulation of the final report? How?

5. The WCD's overarching goals were to (a) review the development effectiveness of dams and assess alternatives for water resources and energy development, and (b) develop internationally accepted standards, guidelines and criteria for decision-making in the planning, design, construction, monitoring operation and decommissioning of dams.[WCD website]

How well do you think the WCD fulfilled each part of this mandate?

6. How successful do you think the WCD was in putting its guiding principles into practice? Its guiding principles included: independence, participation, openness, transparency.

7. How will you use the WCD's final report?

8. Are there any other big messages you would like our assessment team to take into account as we attempt to write this 'history' of the WCD? Do you have suggestions for how our report can be most useful to planning for (or against) future multi-stakeholder policy processes?