Lessons learnt on large resettlement in West Africa: The case of the Souapiti hydropower dam, Guinea

The recently completed Souapiti hydropower dam project on the Konkouré river, Guinea, West Africa, involved the large-scale resettlement of 16 000 people. The practical application of the resettlement process is presented in this paper, including planning, implementation outcomes and the main challenges faced during the construction phase. Two years after the resettlement, a general internal survey was conducted on the development implementation of the sites. Based on the perceptions of displaced people on their resettlement, as well as on the difficulties encountered during implementation, and on the significant socioeconomic evolution of the project area, the positive aspects and points of improvement of the process are highlighted. The findings also underline the limits of the effectiveness of proposed measures and strategies for future progress within such a context.