The challenge for the HS Standard is to embed a process by which all hydropower development is done sustainably and responsibly, recognising that sustainable development challenges and what is considered sustainable also evolves and will continue to over time.

Theory of Change

Sustainability is a journey of continuous improvement to good, better and best practice; for hydropower, this Theory of Change is the roadmap. It outlines the plan to work towards and ultimately seek to achieve the vision of a sustainable hydropower sector. It defines desired impacts and then maps out the pathways needed to achieve these impacts. The Theory of Change also provides a guiding framework to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Hydropower Sustainability Certification Scheme. It allows understanding of the causal relationships between activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts.

 
 
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Based on these causal chains, key performance indicators will be developed to measure progress and gain insight into how systems can be improved over time.

For more information on the Theory of Change, please read Section 2 of the HS Standard.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Impacts are long-term changes in the key sustainability areas that the HS Certification scheme aims to address. Measuring against these impacts helps to understand and demonstrate whether the HS Certification scheme is driving the change it sets out to – a world where sustainable hydropower is the norm.

 
 

Resilient Infrastructure

  • Projects demonstrate their ability to respond to the effects of climate change

  • Projects take into account regional water needs and availability

  • Projects contribute to wider adaptation strategies and flexible grid operations

  • Projects protect communities and the environment from the consequences of dam failure and other infrastructure safety risks

 
 

Prosperous Communities

  • Projects engage in good faith with affected communities

  • Projects respect the dignity and human rights of affected communities

  • Projects improve the livelihoods and living standards of affected communities

  • Projects share their benefits with affected communities

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Healthy Ecosystems

  • Projects protect forests, rivers and other critical habitats from degradation

  • Projects support biodiversity conservation and preservation

  • Projects maintain local ecosystem services and values

  • Projects manage impacts to ecosystems, such as erosion and sedimentation, responsibly

 
 

 Good Governance

  • Projects are governed by sound corporate business structures

  • Projects implement ethical and transparent policies and practices

  • Projects treat their workers fairly and respectfully

  • Projects contribute to wider development strategies and national planning

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The HS Monitoring and Evaluation System allows the HS Secretariat to assess the impact of the HS Certification scheme over time. It seeks to measure short and medium term changes in order to understand how these can contribute to long-term impacts, and ultimately identify ways how the HS Certification scheme can be improved to achieve its vision.

The Monitoring and Evaluation System uses the HS Theory of Change as its guiding framework to monitor and evaluate short- and long-term outcomes and impacts of the HS Certification Scheme. The Monitoring and Evaluation System will also assess the take up and use of the HS Standard and the effectiveness of the Assurance System (e.g. use of the appeals mechanism, feedback from Assurance System Monitoring and evaluation 52 public comment period, etc.). It will include monitoring of the effectiveness of the HS Secretariat, including periodic audits and

More information

Read the HS Standard

Read the HS Assurance System