SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

WHAT IS SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

• The systematic analysis in advance of development or policy changes that will bring social change to a community.

SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

SIAs provide a systematic framework to:• Anticipate social change from a project or policy

change• Measure baseline data and project impacts• Look at the potential social implications• Communicate changes to the community• Outline steps to mitigate or enhance negative or

positive aspects of change• See that the benefits of change do not empower

some groups over others

SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

SIAs should • Involve as many community members as possible• Acknowledge negative consequences so they can

be addressed in an open manner• Seek to balance both economic needs with social

needs

HISTORY OF SIA

Federal US Law requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (US National Environmental Policy Act of 1969—NEPA)for major projects or policy changes• Projects that generate significant alterations of

the “Bio-Physical Environment” can impact human populations• Changing the natural environment impacts

humans• SIAs are anticipatory

SIA PARTICIPANTS

• Project Proponent• Community• Government Agencies• Consultants• The Public

STAGES IN PROJECT/POLICY DEVELOPMENT

• Planning and Development• Construction/Implementation• Operation/maintenance• Decommissioning/Abandonment

COMPONENT GUIDELINES FOR SIA

• Description of proposed actions• Relationship of the proposed action to land use

plans• Probable impacts on the ecology• Alternative to proposes actions• Identifying unavoidable adverse effects• Local short term impacts and long-term issues• Identifying irreversible and irretrievable impacts• Other considerations such as psychological

impacts

SIA VARIABLES

Population Change• Population change• Influx of (temporary) workers• Presence of seasonal residents• Dislocation/Relocation of families• Changes in composition

SIA VARIABLES

Community/Institutional Arrangements• Attitudes towards projects• Interest Group Activities• Changes in local government• Planning and Zoning changes• Industrial diversification• Income and Wages• Income inequality• Employment of groups• Changing occupational choices

SIA VARIABLES

Communities in Transition• New outside interests acting in the community• New coalitions of existing institutions• New social classes• Changes in industries• Changes in housing costs• Changes in the allocation of natural resources

Individual and Family Level Impacts• Disruptions in living and movement patterns• New religious practices• Alteration in family structure• Disruption of social networks• Changes in public safety and health• Changes in leisure activities

SIA VARIABLES

Community Infrastructure• Changes in utilities and roads• Land acquisition and selling• Effects on known cultural, historical, sacred, and

archeological resources

THREE KINDS OF TOOLS

• Planning• Policy• Programs• projects

• Policy• To act• To decide

• Decision-Making• Determine social costs

SCOPING

• Scope out the range of issues• Identify stakeholders• Governments• Project proponents• Project detractors• Community groups and organizations• Interested citizens• Native peoples• Special populations

MITIGATION AND ENHANCEMENT

Mitigation• First, try to avoid adverse impacts• Second, alternative designs to minimize impacts• Third, Compensate of adverse impacts