Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Communications Practices for Governance and Sustainability Improvement (World Bank Working Papers)

Effective communications in all stages of the project cycle (including identification, preparation, implementation and operation) are critical to the success of complex hydraulic infrastructure projects, involving many stakeholders. Being the largest binational water transfer scheme in the world and because of its phasing, the lessons learned in this case study are multifaceted. The LHWP can serve as a model of mutually beneficial development--through demonstrating the benefits of bilateral government cooperation in the development of an international river that exceed those of individual approaches as well as strengthening political cooperation.

The past decade has witnessed major shift thinking about water, including how water infrastructure development strategies can help advance sustainable development and the global fight against poverty. This reflects, in part, greater attention now being paid to governance reforms promoting integrated water resource management (IWRM), the efficient and wise use of water, and expanding access to water and energy services. In addition, the increased emphasis on developing and implementing anti-corruption strategies increases confidence that water infrastructure can be developed efficiently and equitably. There is also growing appreciation of the strong linkages between water, environment and energy security and climate change - impacting on decisions about the development and management of water infrastructure, especially in water-stressed regions, and of the central role that public, private sector and civil society partnerships can play in encouraging innovation, tackling challenges, promoting transparency and accountability and creating synergy. Communication is the thread that links these concerns and underpins achievements in sustainability and governance reform in water. Not only to ensure that up-front strategic assessments mobilize all viable options to meet the challenges unique to each situation, but also to better integrate governance and anti-corruption reforms and sustainability into all stages of planning and the project cycle of infrastructure. Wider acceptance of multi-stakeholder dialogue is a trend which characterizes beneficial change. This LHWP is notable for its progressive learning approach as it moved through its implementation phases and is an example of the shift s that are occurring globally in approaches to dam planning and management as they have become more inclusive. It is also a key example of the critical importance of political will in tackling corruption in a large water infrastructure project.

This paper considers the multi-faceted lessons of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and how the project can serve as a model of mutually beneficial development, though demonstrating the benefits of a bilateral governmental cooperative approach in the development of an international river. These benefits include exceeding the impact of individual national approaches and strengthening political cooperation among all participants. This model is particularly relevant sicne approximately 40 percent of the world's population lives in transboundary river basins and more than 90 percent of the world's population lives within countries that share these basins Background -- Introduction -- Governance -- Sustainability -- Communication -- Phase Ii Feasibility Study -- Progressive Learning Approach Used In The Lhwp -- Comments By Civil Society -- Findings. Lawrence J.m. Haas, Leonardo Mazzei, Donal T. O'leary. Includes Bibliographical References. World Bank Working Papers are available individually or on standing order. This World Bank Working Paper series is also available online through the World Bank e-library (www.worldbank.org/newelibrary). --Résumé de l'éditeur Lesotho Highlands Water Project is part of the World Bank Working Paper series. These papers are published to communicate the results of the Bank's ongoing research and to stimulate public discussion