GEOPOLITICAL |
IMPACT NAME |
POSITIVE SCOPE OF IMPACT |
NEGATIVE SCOPE OF IMPACT |
INDICATOR |
GP1: Basin Population Affected |
Dam provides benefits to basin residents such as hydropower, irrigation, navigation, water improvements, and employment |
Dam creates costs to basin residents such as loss of cropland, forced resettlement, damage to fisheries, or loss of livelihood |
Share of basin population affected either positively or negatively as percentage of entire basin population |
GP2: Political Complexity |
Basin-wide management may increase and induce dialog that fosters improved inter-jurisdictional relations; IWM may lead to greater efficiencies |
Basin-wide management may lead to greater tensions among riparians and reduces efficiencies |
Number and type of boundaries crossed. Despite differences in a large dam on a tributary versus a small dam on a tributary, we assume that impacts will nonetheless be basin-wide, and that magnitude and salience will appropriately capture the extent and relevance of those impacts. Source: GIS data/maps |
GP3: Legal Framework |
Strong laws help mitigate the impacts of change; existing basin agreements and associated River Basin Organizations (RBOs) help reduce vulnerability throughout basin |
Laws and other institutions are weak or nonexistent, and insufficient to mitigate negative impacts or reduce vulnerability |
Administrative level of highest legal framework governing dam site (e.g., international, county-level, etc.). NB: If potential veto exists due to Endangered Species Act or similar, then check for overall legal feasibility of project |
GP4: Domestic Governance – civil society (Democracy Index) |
Decision processes are open and transparent; governmental management capacity is robust; civil dialogue is open and active |
Decisions processes are closed and obfuscated; governmental management capacity is limited; civil dialogue is limited/constrained |
Democracy Index |
GP5: Political Stability (intranational) |
Cooperation during planning, construction, operation, and management phases leads to the establishment or strengthening of institutional arrangements and promotes improved relations among relevant administrative areas (internal) |
Lack of cooperation during planning, construction, and operation, and management phases, or other conflicts related to project, increases tensions in relations among relevant administrative areas (internal) |
Internal BAR scale |
GP6: Political Stability (international) |
Cooperation during planning, construction, and operation, and management phases leads to the establishment or strengthening of institutional arrangements and promotes improved relations among relevant administrative areas (international) |
Lack of cooperation during planning, construction, and operation, and management phases, or other conflicts related to project, increases tensions in relations among relevant administrative areas (international) |
International BAR scale |
GP7: Impacts on non-constituents |
Dam construction provides positive impacts (e.g. improved access to electricity, improved flood control, etc.) for individuals and communities outside the immediate area of the dam (other counties, municipalities, provinces, countries). |
Dam construction causes negative impacts (e.g. damage to fisheries, property, or livelihoods) for individuals and communities outside the immediate area of the dam (other counties, municipalities, provinces, countries) |
Index of spatial extent and magnitude of impacts based on analysis of reports from media, hydropower companies, government, and non-governmental sources. |