World Bank

At least 10 million people, including these farmers in Lesotho, have been displaced by World Bank dam projects (Lori Pottinger)

The World Bank has traditionally been the most important financier of large dams. Since its creation in 1944, the Bank has funded approximately 600 dams. With projects such as Chixoy, Kariba and Sardar Sarovar, these dams have included some of the world's most appalling development disasters.

The World Bank is not just funding concrete projects. It also creates dam-building institutions, devises master plans for countries' development, and generally promotes a top-down development model.

After strong grassroots campaigns, the World Bank mostly withdrew from funding large dams in the 1990s. Other funders - export credit agencies, Southern financial institutions and particularly Chinese financiers - didn't hesitate to fill the gap.

"Lending for big dams accounts for 10% of the World Bank's portfolio but 95% of its headaches." John Briscoe, World Bank senior water advisor, 2003

Since 2003, the World Bank has returned to promoting large dams by adopting a new high-risk infrastructure strategy. It is also trying to weaken its own environmental standards. Some of the dams the Bank is currently funding include Nam Theun 2 (Laos), Bujagali (Uganda) and Allain Duhangan (India). (See World Bank Pipeline Projects to Watch for some proposed World Bank water and energy projects.)

Protest against the World Bank's Sardar Sarovar Dam in India

International Rivers coordinates civil society campaigns to keep the World Bank out of destructive dam projects. We monitor the projects that are going forward, and ask the Bank to address the unresolved legacy of dams it has funded in the past. We work to strengthen the Bank's environmental, social and anti-corruption policies, and promote more sustainable water and energy alternatives.

LATEST ADDITIONS:

Damming for Development: Lessons from Laos

Nam Theun 2 Dam: Rising Water, Falling Expectations

International Rivers’ Statement on Nam Theun 2 Reservoir Flooding

World Bank behind the curve on renewable energy

Ethiopia – Water for Private Sector Development

Shannon Lawrence
shannon [at] internationalrivers [dot] org
+216 23 456 969

Peter Bosshard
peter [at] internationalrivers [dot] org
+1 510 848 1155