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The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol is an enhanced sustainability assessment tool used to measure and guide performance in the hydropower sector. The Protocol:

• Is a framework for assessing the sustainability of hydropower projects
• Distils hydropower sustainability into more than 20 clearly-defined topic
  
• Provides a consistent, globally-applicable methodology
• Is governed by a multi-stakeholder Council
• Regulated by a Charter and Terms and Conditions of use

The Protocol is the result of intensive work from 2008 to 2010 by the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Forum, a multi-stakeholder body with representatives from social and environmental NGOs (Oxfam, The Nature Conservancy, Transparency International, WWF); governments (China, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Zambia); commercial and development banks (Equator Principles Financial Institutions Group, The World Bank); and the hydropower sector, represented by IHA.

The Protocol was officially launched in Brazil in June 2011 and is governed by a multi-stakeholder council, reflecting the broad stakeholder groups contained in the forum, and made up of a governance committee, chambers and a management entity.

The Protocol is managed by the International Hydropower Association.

Implementation of the Protocol is made possible by the assistance of the European Commission's Life+ programme.

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News

PROTOCOL UPDATE 30 MAY 2013

Doug Smith and Simon Howard of IHA led a side meeting on 22nd May during the IHA World Congress in Kuching, providing an introduction to the Protocol.

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NEWS UPDATE 21 MAY 2013

The first General Meeting of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Council was held in Malaysia on 21st May and represents a milestone in the evolution of the Protocol.

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