Lack of standard policy directives on benefit sharing have allowed the hydropower project developers to define benefits either based on their own understanding as “corporate social responsibility” (CSR) or through negotiations with local communities in an attempt to obtain social license to operate hydropower projects. Within benefit sharing, what actually constitutes ‘benefit’ is debatable and varies considerably across hydropower projects. Even if benefits are shared, variations exist among hydropower projects in terms of how benefits are shared – through environmental and social impact mitigation strategies or through separate mechanisms such as corporate social responsibility or other structures and mechanisms.

It is imperative and highly pertinent to conduct research on benefit sharing to develop an understanding of how benefits from hydropower projects are understood by stakeholders, including project developers, government and citizens, within the current context of rapidly changing investment in hydropower sector involving multiple actors.

ICIMOD released the first comprehensive report on benefit sharing mechanisms in Nepal in 2016, which was widely appreciated by the larger hydropower community. Later, at the end of 2017, ICIMOD commissioned four studies – one each in Upper Indus, Pakistan and in three states of India (Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh). These studies were conducted by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan; People’s Science Institute (PSI), Dehradun, and South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies (SaciWATERs), Hyderabad. In addition, another study looked at tradeoffs between irrigation and hydropower in Nepal. First drafts of all these reports are now ready and the purpose of this workshop is to discuss and finalise those drafts.

Objectives of the workshop:

1. Present the findings from the benefit sharing field work and case studies in Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Pakistan.
2. Incorporate feedback and finalise each of the draft for publication.
3. Share the findings with a larger group of stakeholders.