From compensation to development： the application and progress of RwD in China

Involuntary resettlenment caused by project construction is a difficult problem over world. In the past, therestoration of livelihoods in the event of involuntary resettlementhas been based purely on providing compensation to those who are displaced. Evidence has shown that compensation-based involuntary resettlement can not realize the objective of restoring and improving resettlers＇ living standard. With a view to improve this outcome, the concept of Resettlement with Development （RwD） was envisaged and is now generally heralded as the means to mitigate catastrophic failures of the past. However, few developing countries have included the concept of RwD into th, ational policies and China is one of them. The Chinese government has taken resettlement as an opportunity to help resettlers restore and improve their living standards and develop economy in reservoir areas by implementing RwD olicy including giving compensation and subsidies at early stage and offering production assistance at late stage, citing up reservoir construction fund, initiating partnership programs and preferential policy as well as enhanc infrastruture construction. The preliminary experience from the TGP resettlement has verified that the transformation from compensation-based resettlement to RwD is a right policy, choice. Meanwhile. because ofthe changing political environment and the complexity of involuntary resettlement there is still room for china to improve its RwD policy.

From compensation to development the application and progress of RwD in China

Involuntaty resettlement caused by project construction is a difficult problem over the world.In the past the restoration of livelihoods in the event of involuntaty resettlement has been based purely on providing compensa tion to those who are displaced.Evidence has shown that compensation-based involuntary resettlement can not real ize the objective of restoring and improving resettlers living standard.With a view to improve this outcome,the concept of Resettlement with Development(RwD)was envisaged and is now generally heralded as the means to mitigate the catastrophic failures of the past.However,few developing countries have included the concept of RwD into their national policies and China is one of them.The Chinese government has taken resettlement as an opportunity to help resettlers restore and improve their living standards and develop economy in reservoir areas by implementing RwD policy including giving compensation and subsidies at early stage and offering productton assistance at late stage,setting up reservoir eonstruclion fund,initiating partnership programs and preferential policy as well as enhaneing infrastructure construction.7he preliminary experience from the TGP resettlement has verified that the transforma tion from compensation-based resettlement to RwD to a right policy choice Meanwhile,because,of the chaning political environment and the complexity of involuntary resettlement there is still room Jar China to improve its RwD policy.