Application of the human security framework to the impact assessment of Sambor Dam project in Cambodia

Abstract

Although the Human Security (HS) framework has been proposed for quite some years now, attempts to apply the framework to actual developmental projects haven’t been widespread. The concept of a Human Security Impact Assessment (HSIA) is emerging as a new tool to determine the costs and benefits of development projects in a multi-disciplinary way using the Human Security framework, although the HSIA has not been used extensively to date and has never been used to evaluate a dam project. In fact, the range of costs and benefits of large dams have never been analyzed using the Human Security framework. This study does not attempt to do a HSIA, but it is an attempt to test whether it is feasible to use the HSIA tool for a proposed dam project, and also asks whether it would be useful to do so. For a successful and useful HSIA, the study considers that there are three mandatory pre-requisites to be met, namely: being able to determine the current human security situation of the target community; being able to predict the potential impacts of the development project on the community's human security; and the endorsement and support of stakeholders to undertake a HSIA 4 villages in Sambor, Kratie province in Cambodia were interviewed to measure the current HS status. Also, the external stakeholders such as NGOs, Governmental agencies and International organizations were interviewed to find out their current understanding and perception on Sambor community and the proposed Sambor dam, and to anticipate whether a HSIA would be possibly conducted for the Sambor dam project. This study demonstrates that it is possible and would be useful to undertake a HSIA for the Sambor dam project because it will help stakeholders to see the impacts in a more holistic way and to design better projects with a decreased possibility of unfavorable consequences. There certainly is enough information and knowledge existing from the all stakeholders if they are synthesized together to undertake an assessment of the current human security situation in the Sambor area and to anticipate the changes to human security if the proposed Sambor dam is built. However, for a successful HSIA, the current limitations and barriers should be addressed including lack of resources and lack motivation to share information.