Who Really Benefits From Hydropower?

Who Really Benefits From Hydropower?

Centering communities in the debate on large-scale dams and development finance By Genny Ngende, Africa Program Senior Campaign Coordinator As part of our multi-layered advocacy strategy to expose the environmental and human rights impacts of large-scale hydropower projects, International Rivers recently engaged with international financial institutions at two major global forums: the Finance in Common…

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Press Release | World Bank Approves Controversial Inga 3 Dam in DRC Despite Steep Human and Environmental Cost

Press Release | World Bank Approves Controversial Inga 3 Dam in DRC Despite Steep Human and Environmental Cost

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 3, 2025 MEDIA CONTACTS: Siziwe Mota, Africa Program Director of International Rivers, smota@internationalrivers.org,  +27 608351354 Emmanuel Musuyu, Executive Secretary, CORAP, emmamus023@gmail.com  +243 81169 7699 WASHINGTON, DC – The World Bank today approved an initial $250 million in financing for the first phase of the Inga 3 hydropower project in the Democratic Republic…

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Communities Left in Dire Straits After the Construction of the Souapiti Dam in Guinea

Communities Left in Dire Straits After the Construction of the Souapiti Dam in Guinea

By Genny Ngende, Senior Campaign Coordinator, Africa Program Introduction The Africa Program works in partnership with a local organization in Guinea, Centre du Commerce International pour le Développement (CECIDE). Individually and collectively, we conduct research, engage with government and economic actors, publish reports and organize workshops for communities adversely impacted by hydropower projects.  It is…

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PRESS RELEASE | Biocultural Community Protocol (BCP) of the OvaHerero of the Kaokoland in Angola and Namibia (the Ovahimba) gives recognition to Indigenous Peoples

PRESS RELEASE | Biocultural Community Protocol (BCP) of the OvaHerero of the Kaokoland in Angola and Namibia (the Ovahimba) gives recognition to Indigenous Peoples

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 12, 2024  Karipetua Uarije, representative of the OvaHerero Biocultural Community Protocol Custodian Committee, kuarije@yahoo.com Natasha Prince, Natural Justice, natasha@naturaljustice.org Siziwe Mota, International Rivers, smota@internationalrivers.org Opuwo, Namibia – The first written Biocultural Community Protocol (BCP) of the OvaHerero peoples of the Kaokoland in Namibia and Angola, capturing their history, cultural practices, and traditions,…

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Congo River Basin Animation Series

Congo River Basin Animation Series

  ***Français ci-dessous*** International Rivers’ Africa Program is excited to launch an animated community education series on the Congo River Basin.  This animated series aims to provide easily digestible information for riverine and hydropower dam-affected communities. It covers the basics of river basin ecology, hydroelectric dams and their impacts, as well as community rights and renewable…

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DRC Delegation Addresses the Green Hydrogen Hype in Europe

DRC Delegation Addresses the Green Hydrogen Hype in Europe

Introduction In September, International Rivers accompanied civil society partners and community leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to meet with European policymakers and civil society organizations, to discuss Germany and the EU’s green hydrogen development and extraction plans concerning the DRC, including raising concerns for potential investment in the planned Grand Inga…

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MAP: Hydropower Dams in Sub-Saharan Africa

MAP: Hydropower Dams in Sub-Saharan Africa

French below/ Version Française plus bas Only one-third of rivers remain free-flowing, largely due to dams. Globally, large hydropower dams have displaced up to 80 million people and compromised the livelihoods of 472 million more downstream. Although dams are on the decline in most parts of the world, in Africa, there is an incline in planned…

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PRESS RELEASE | Namibia at an Energy Crossroads: continue relying on climate-risky hydropower or harness its abundant and cost-effective renewables

PRESS RELEASE | Namibia at an Energy Crossroads: continue relying on climate-risky hydropower or harness its abundant and cost-effective renewables

TMP Public electricity sector assessment demonstrates that solar and wind represent the least-cost pathway to meeting Namibia’s current and future energy demand FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2023 Media contacts: Aqeelah Hassen, Communications and Campaigns Coordinator, International Rivers, ahassen@internationalrivers.org Windhoek, Namibia – Today, International Rivers and EarthLife Namibia released a study by TMP Public on…

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Mapping Community Protocols with Himba Leaders – Part Two

Mapping Community Protocols with Himba Leaders – Part Two

By Aqeelah Hassen, Africa Program Communications and Campaigner International Rivers, Natural Justice, Himba community committee members and two researchers from the Kunene region convened in Windhoek, Namibia for the second Community Protocol workshop last August.   The workshop started with a recap of the purpose of the Community Protocol and then focused on preparing committee members…

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Protecting Rights of the Himba Indigenous Community and Kunene River through Community Protocols

Protecting Rights of the Himba Indigenous Community and Kunene River through Community Protocols

by Siziwe Mota, International Rivers Africa Program Director of International Rivers and introduction by Nalori Chakma, South Asia Senior Programme Coordinator, Transboundary Rivers of South Asia Introduction Globally, Indigenous rights to self-determination in relation to their rights to lands, territories and resources have been gaining support and attention at different levels.  However, despite this a…

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