"Africa, dams and development" - Panel discussion

Past Event

Date
24 November 2014, 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Location
Lecture Theatre, Oxford Martin School
34 Broad Street (corner of Holywell and Catte Streets), Oxford, OX1 3BD

Please note that this event now starts at 4pm and NOT 5pm

A panel discussion organised by the Oxford Water Network and the Oxford Martin Programme on Resource Stewardship

Africa faces formidable development challenges in the 21st Century, with expanding populations and accelerating urbanisation; rising demand for water, energy and food; greater hydrological variability predicted with climate change; and persistent poverty and inequalities. Dams appear to promise an appealing package of benefits to meet Africa’s development needs – they can reduce floods, store water for irrigation, provide energy for burgeoning populations and facilitate regional integration. Yet, the benefits and costs of dams are not distributed evenly and new large dams are planned that could alter the political, social and water landscape of the region. What is the role for dams in Africa’s development?Can they give African countries the boost they need for growth and poverty alleviation, or will they only serve to exacerbate environmental problems, conflict and existing inequalities?

Moderator: Dr Rob Hope, Senior Research Fellow, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford

Panellists:

  • Dr Atif Ansar, Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University
  • Professor David Grey, School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University
  • Michael Norton, Global Water Director, AMEC Environment & Infrastructure
  • Dr Judith Plummer, Cambridge University
  • Jamie Skinner, Team Leader – Water, International Institute for Environment and Development
  • Dr David Turton, African Studies Centre, Oxford University

Please register to attend at: bookwhen.com/7seqd

The panel discussion will be followed by a drinks reception. All welcome.

The panel discussion is also being live webcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1WyG0Xs99E