Public Participation of Communities Affected by Hydropower Projects

Background

The International Rivers Africa Program developed the Public Participation Resource Manual and the Public Participation Curriculum for Communities in Africa which are a practical guide for African communities, particularly indigenous people, women, farmers, fisher folk, and other traditionally marginalized groups confronting the negative impacts of large-scale development projects, like hydroelectric dams. The manual emphasizes that sustainable development must improve lives without causing harm, and it centers on the human right to participate in decisions that affect one’s land, resources, and livelihoods. At its core is the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) which requires communities be fully informed and voluntarily agree to any development project before it begins.

The manual outlines relevant international and regional legal frameworks, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Labour Organization’s Convention 169. It also explains how communities can use Independent Accountability Mechanisms (IAMs) linked to development finance institutions like the World Bank and the African Development Bank to challenge harmful projects. Two case studies Epupa Dam in Namibia and the Lilongwe Water Project in Malawi demonstrate how affected communities have used advocacy, legal tools, and alliances with civil society groups to assert their rights and influence project outcomes.

Finally, the manual offers practical tools for organizing community-led campaigns, including a step-by-step campaign planning checklist, risk assessments, and advocacy strategies. It stresses participation, especially of women and youth, and provides links to additional resources on rights, security, and research methods.

By equipping communities with knowledge and tools, the manual empowers them to advocate for development that upholds transparency, human rights, and protects the environment.

Public Participation Resource Manual

The new study from International Rivers is a practical guide for African communities confronting the negative impacts of large-scale development projects, like hydroelectric dams.

Download here (English Version)

A glance at the highlights of the materials:

The study presents key insights, detailed analysis, and real-world examples to inform, inspire, and guide action, including:

What “Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)” really means
The laws that protect your rights — UNDRIP, ILO 169, and the African Charter
How to use accountability tools from banks like the World Bank and AfDB
Real case studies and step-by-step campaign tools

Materials available to download

Public Participation Curriculum (English)

Public Participation Resource Manual (English)

Public Participation Curriculum (French)

Public Participation Resource Manual (French)

Community Training on Public Participation

Three communities, together with our NGO partners have been trained on Public Participation – in Matadi, Democratic Republic of Congo, in Opuwo, Namibia and in Kindia, Guinea. The training focused on empowering these indigenous and local communities to understand their rights in relation to development, to understand laws on land ownership and rights, as well as the importance of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in projects such as mining, hydropower, and other infrastructure development projects.

Some of the challenges that communities identified include a lack of consultation and exclusion from decisions related to infrastructure projects, displacements due to development projects, environmental degradation (e.g. damming of rivers affecting livelihoods, wildlife-human conflict etc.) and inequitable or non-existent compensation for community displacements, as well as a lack of information and transparency on the part of decision-makers.

We focused on understanding development from a community perspective, considered legal frameworks for public participation and rights to FPIC in international law and its application in the various jurisdictions, conducted community resource and stakeholder mapping, unpacked power and decision-making, identified alliances, and analysed legal recourse and campaigning strategies. These resulted in the development of advocacy action plans and the creation of community structures to strengthen advocacy and community action.

+xx organizations joined the gatherings organized by International Rivers.

The workshops highlighted that true development must be community-driven, rights-based, and sustainable.

“These resources were created by International Rivers are designed to put knowledge and power back into the hands of riverine communities in Africa. Refined through community workshops over a two-year period, these tools have provided, and will continue to provide communities with simple, practical guidance on how to participate in decisions that affect their land, rivers, and livelihoods. They have also deepened community understanding of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), empowering people to stand up for their rights and to shape development to benefits both people and the environment..”
Siziwe Mota, Africa Program Manager at International Rivers

Community Testimonies

“The workshop proved exceptionally valuable, serving as an eye-opener for our indigenous community’s participatory rights, notably the right to be consulted on all decisions made on our behalf. The initiative equipped us to defend our environmental and land rights in the Kunene region of Namibia. The workshop therefore enabled communities to more effectively assert their rights and interests in project planning, governance, and ecological decision‑making.” Karipetua Uarije – Coordinator – Kaoko Epupa Development Foundation

“It is a great joy for me to participate today in this workshop, which brought together not only the communities already impacted by the Souapiti project but also the broader community that will be affected by the Koukoutamba project. This workshop has provided me with valuable knowledge — not only about my rights, but also about how to assert and defend them. I have also learned practical techniques, particularly regarding the FPIC process, and I now understand more clearly that property — especially land, which is the most important — rightfully belongs to me and my community. This approach has equipped me to better represent and advocate for the interests of my community.” Fodé Abdoulaye SYLLA – President of the Union of Impacted Communities of Souapiti

“My main takeaway from this training relates to the Koukoutamba Dam. The training has truly been an opportunity for us to develop our knowledge, share experiences, and learn a great deal. We were taught about both the impacts and the potential benefits of the dam, and we now have a much clearer understanding of these issues — for which we are grateful. We were also informed about the concerns surrounding the dam, particularly the fact that we will need to be resettled.” Oumou Sadio Barry – Representative of communities of Dogomet and Sherifoulabafé and focal point.

“I am pleased to have participated in this forum, which has truly enlightened me. In today’s world, it is essential to learn about topics like these. The forum focused on the roles and responsibilities of the platform we need to establish — a platform that will bring us together, organize us, and serve as a space to discuss development programs for the communities impacted by the Koukoutamba Dam.” Alpha Amar Baldé – Mayor and President of the Special Delegation of the Urban Municipality of Tougué.

“The workshop allowed us to better understand what public participation is and how, as young people, we can advocate for our rights. The workshop also deepened our understanding of the Inga project and why it is essential for local communities, as the main stakeholders, to be involved from the very beginning of a project. This ensures transparency and that our rights are respected, and our environment is protected, and our involvement in decision-making is guaranteed. We also learned why it is important to know and uphold the right of communities to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. Finally, the workshop helped us identify who the stakeholders are (government, donors, communities, companies, etc.) and how to interact with them for example, through dialogue, participation in public consultations, sending letters or memos, or raising awareness.” Meta Gertrude Ngimbi – Gender, Environment, and Natural Resources Officer, MOJAC-DRC

Have questions about this work or how you can get involved?

We’d love to hear from you.

Siziwe Mota

Africa Program Managersmota@internationalrivers.org