Evaluation practices in water Project decision-making processes comparative analysis of Alqueva (Portugal) and Ebro River Transfer (Spain)

Abstract

The new Water Framework Directive requires prior evaluation of all new river basin interventions. However, its failure to provide detailed guidance on standards of evaluation best practice, could potentially undermine and threaten the WFD objectives. This is particularly the case where interventions are characterised by high levels of complexity, uncertainty and conflict. This paper is set within the context of the ADVISOR project, the main aim of which is to develop a set of evaluation guidelines for authorities and agencies responsible for administering river basin interventions. The development of the guidelines is informed by the ex-post analysis of five case studies of river basin projects and policies from across Europe. This paper presents a comparative analysis of two of these case studies, both located on the Iberian Peninsula. From this analysis a number of barriers and opportunities towards achieving sound evaluation practice are identified.