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
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Project Proponent
Community
Government Agencies
Consultants
The Public
STAGES IN PROJECT/POLICY
DEVELOPMENT
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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
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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