Join our LinkedIn Group

The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”. Although SIA can and has been applied in many different settings, this guidance document addresses the application of SIA at the project level, e.g. the planned construction of new infrastructure such as airports, bridges, bypasses, dams, highways, mines, pipelines, ports, transmission corridors, windfarms, as well as commercial agriculture and agroforestry developments and the creation of nature conservation areas. The planning and construction of these projects can cause many social impacts. From early stages, there typically is speculation about the project that can affect property prices, and can lead either to an exodus of people, or conversely to the influx of people (known as the ‘honeypot effect’). Projects can create opportunities and benefits for people, but at the same time they can also create harmful effects. Typically, projects are never uniformly good or bad, there is a differential distribution of costs and benefits within nearby communities. It is too simplistic to talk in terms of winners and losers, because people can be benefitted and harmed at the same time. Good management is needed to ensure that the benefits of projects are maximised and the negative impacts are avoided or minimised on an ongoing basis during the life of the project. SIA is a process that can greatly assist in ensuring the achievement of benefits and the avoidance of harm. Because SIA involves the processes of managing the social impacts of development and contributes to shared value by improving outcomes for local communities as well as for the developer (corporate or government), it should be undertaken by the project whether it is legally required or not. The amount of effort invested in the SIA to adequately identify and manage social impacts should be commensurate with the likely project impacts and risks. Early scoping activities should help the practitioner identify the relative scale of effort likely to be required.

Social impact assessment: Guidance for assessing and managing the social impacts of projects

Resource Key: BKMR9PBP

Document Type: Report

Creator:

Author:

  • Frank Vanclay
  • Ana Maria Esteves
  • Ilse Aucamp
  • Daniel M. Franks

Creators Name: {mb_resource_zotero_creatorsname}

Place:

Institution: International Association for Impact Assessment

Date: 2015

Language:

The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”. Although SIA can and has been applied in many different settings, this guidance document addresses the application of SIA at the project level, e.g. the planned construction of new infrastructure such as airports, bridges, bypasses, dams, highways, mines, pipelines, ports, transmission corridors, windfarms, as well as commercial agriculture and agroforestry developments and the creation of nature conservation areas. The planning and construction of these projects can cause many social impacts. From early stages, there typically is speculation about the project that can affect property prices, and can lead either to an exodus of people, or conversely to the influx of people (known as the ‘honeypot effect’). Projects can create opportunities and benefits for people, but at the same time they can also create harmful effects. Typically, projects are never uniformly good or bad, there is a differential distribution of costs and benefits within nearby communities. It is too simplistic to talk in terms of winners and losers, because people can be benefitted and harmed at the same time. Good management is needed to ensure that the benefits of projects are maximised and the negative impacts are avoided or minimised on an ongoing basis during the life of the project. SIA is a process that can greatly assist in ensuring the achievement of benefits and the avoidance of harm. Because SIA involves the processes of managing the social impacts of development and contributes to shared value by improving outcomes for local communities as well as for the developer (corporate or government), it should be undertaken by the project whether it is legally required or not. The amount of effort invested in the SIA to adequately identify and manage social impacts should be commensurate with the likely project impacts and risks. Early scoping activities should help the practitioner identify the relative scale of effort likely to be required.

Download Document