For a dam to contribute successfully to the sustainable development of society, local people must also benefit. And since the livelihoods of people in rural societies depend on land, proper land tenure is key to ensuring dams bring benefits for all.

For governments, this may mean drawing up new policies and governance tools to use when building dams and irrigation schemes.

According to Jamie Skinner, director of GWI West Africa, this five-minute video is a useful way of breaking down the complex issue of land rights in relation to dams.

"Across West Africa, constructing large dams remains a thorny issue, causing huge numbers of people to lose their livelihoods", he said. "This animation explains the challenges in ensuring people are fairly compensated for loss of land and sets out, in a clear and accessible way, how new policies and governance tools can help secure the rights of those affected."

"It provides a quick and easy entry point for governments and other stakeholders – including donors, consultants and the communities themselves – to understand how the rights of displaced people can be protected, thereby ensuring dams benefit the many and not just the few."

This video is also available in French.