Leonardo Mazzei - Böcker

Describes how the timely use of two-way communication in large water infrastructure projects leads to improved project design and is key to identify and address problems that could result in project delays and incremental costs.

This Handbook offers 'how to' ideas to help infrastructure practitioners identify good practice improvements in communication, starting with the World Bank’s own expanding portfolio of dam projects. In-depth case studies prepared for this Handbook show the considerable scope, value added, and many practical reasons to link governance, sustainability, and communication aspects at all stages of the project cycle. The Handbook reflects a philosophy of continuous improvement in development practices. Improving communication in dam planning and management not only achieves consensus on imbedding anti-corruption measures in projects but also builds multi-stakeholder partnerships that are fundamental to advance the wider development effectiveness of large dams and creates synergy to combat poverty with sustainable infrastructure provision.

The past decade has witnessed a major global shift in thinking about water, including the role that water infrastructure plays in sustainable development. This rethinking aims to balance better the social, economic, and environmental performance aspects in the development and management of large dams. Infrastructure strategies must complement strategies for water, environment, and energy security and for emerging concerns to reduce vulnerability in water resource systems to climate change on the horizon. Communication is central to multi-stakeholder dialogue and partnerships at all levels needed to achieve sustainability and governance reform in water resource management and infrastructure provision. At the same time, communication drives the advocacy to mobilize political will and public support for beneficial change and continuous improvement in practices. This case study emphasizes that is not only important to mobilize all opportunities to reconcile water demand and supply in river basins that are coming under increasing levels of water stress, but also to integrate effectively governance and anti-corruption reforms and sustainability improvements into all stages of the planning and project cycle—adding value for stakeholders.