Equity-based Natural Resource Allocation for Infrastructure Development: Evidence From Large Hydropower Dams in Africa and Asia

Abstract

Large hydropower infrastructure development is a key energy priority in low and middle income countries as a means to increase energy access and promote national development. Nevertheless hydropower dams can also negatively impact people's livelihoods by reducing access to local natural resources such as land, water and food. This paper analyses equity-based resource allocation from an ecological economics perspective, by looking at local resource use competition between different uses (food, energy, livelihoods) and users (villagers, urban settlers, local government and dam builders) in selected case studies in Asia and Africa. It also illustrates from a political ecology approach divergences between national priorities of energy production and growth and local development needs.