SOCIAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
Candace Metcalf
AmeriCorps VISTA 2015
Illinois Campus Compact (ILCC)
Chicago Illinois
“One
goes to college to learn, it seems, not to
think. When one enters the portals of
learning, one leaves the dearest pleasures-solitude, books and imagination--outside with
the whispering pines. I suppose I ought to
find some comfort in the thought that I am
laying up treasures for future enjoyment, but
I am improvident enough to prefer present
joy to hoarding riches against a rainy day.”
― Helen Keller, The Story of My Life
What is Impact Assessment?
Is a form of analysis used to strategically measure
impacts on social conditions and social outcomes for
any new development and existing developments. To
better understand the effects of the social group
who will be affected by such developments.
• A New Government Policy e.g. Marriage Equality
• Change in Spiritual Beliefs or Cultural Practices
• Conflict and Displacement or Resettlement of Refugees
• An Industrial Plant
• Global Warming Prevention
Policy
Social/Environmental
Socio-Cultural/
Spiritual/Behaviors/
Values/Opinions
Historical/Political
Empowering People/
Capital-Financial &
Human
Adverse
Social Risks/Conflicts
Other
Key Objectives
Drive ‘change’ and focus on the ‘social mission’
Making better informed decisions, improve outcomes
Assess and resolve conflicts between social, environmental,
economic, urban and rural developments
Inform and empower people (including marginalized), increase
social value/return on social investment.
Core principle is accountability and ethical development
Key Objectives cont.…
Identifying changes, cultural dynamics and society involved
Understanding baseline demographics
Creating a relationship with the community, becoming or
identifying a mediator for the many different groups of
people of society.
Get people involved from that society, informed awareness.
Ultimately be a positive advocate for what the people want!
Social Mission Statement
Our central purpose is to provide psychotherapeutic help
for refugees and asylum seekers, especially children and
families of recently arrived refugees who are having
problems of adjustment - Refugee Therapy Center
Focused & Clear
What do we want to accomplish?
A Comprehensive Guide for Social Impact Assessment, Center for Good Governance
(Rietberg-McCracken and Narayan 1998); 2006
Social Impact Assessment Guidance for Assessing and Managing the Social Impacts of Projects
(Frank Vanclay 2015)
Effective Planning
Phase 1- Exploring issues related to the project
Phase 2 - Analysis and assessment of important variables
Phase 3 - Implement strategies
Phase 4 - Management and monitoring
Social Impact Assessment Guidance for Assessing and Managing the Social Impacts of Projects
(Frank Vanclay 2015); pg. 8
Working with Refugees
Community
Other
• Residents
• Economy
• Governance
University
• Project Proponents
• Policy
• Community Partners
• Resources
The Public
• Message of
Development
• Opinions and Beliefs
Stake Holders Roles/Significance
Internal and external need to be reviewed
External stake holders
Role in project
Position/assistance on issues
Level of significance to
project
USAID
Partner
Offering delivery assistance
High
Peace Corps
Partner
Temporary housing assistance
High
NGO #1
Partner
Raising donations
High
NGO #2
Non-partner
Considering helping
Low
U.S. State Dept.
Non-partner
Monitoring conflict in region
Low
Other
Logic Modeling
Problem/
Situation
Refugees need
shelter, food,
water, basic
subsistence
3,500 displaced
due to conflicts
in region
Input
Social media
fundraising,
already
established
network with
NGOS
• Theories of Change
• Impact Value Chain
Activities
Outputs
Immediate
Outcomes
Drafting a
fundraising
plan, draft a
networking/par
tnership plan
Establish
funds, acquire
tents, food,
clean water,
soap, blankets
Formal plan of
delivering aid
Identify other
sources to tapsocial capital
3 emergency
support staff
established
$2000.00 per
refugee
Progress/
Timeframe
Timeline
established by
(date)
Plan to
complete
activities by 2
weeks through
(date.)
Goals
Achieved
Long-term
Outcomes
Connected
with 3 strong
NGOS in our
network willing
to support
cause by
sharing on
social media
and promote
cause
Refugees
receive shelter,
food, water,
soap
3 emergency
staff to assist
for 2 months
Formal plan by
(date)
Each Item Needs to be focused and measurable in order to address relation between
Processes and actions that contribute to the outcomes.
Key Information, Variables, and Impacts
• Safe water
Pros
•Air pollution
Cons
•Women lack authority in
public life
•Women participation in
economy
•Child labor
•Civil conflicts
•1 medical clinic
Cons
•Dirt roads
•No phone lines
•No shelter
Infrastructure
Environment
• Low divorce rate
Pros
Economy
Pros
•Government
support
Cons
•Cost of living
•Inflation
•Lack of income
Pros
•Low birth/death rate
•Community seeks
medical help for
common health
issues.
Cons
•Ramped STDS
among people are 18
to 40, gonorrhea,
clap,
Cons
Community
Pros
Health
Impact
Impact
• Water contamination
•Increased access to vaccines
•Dirt roads get paved
•Increased access to phone lines
•Shelter Improves
Impact
Infrastructure
• Improved Air Quality
Impact
Environment
• Increased divorce rate
•Government support
increases
Impact
•Cost of Living policy created
•Inflation
•Lack of income decreases
Economic
Impact
Community
•Women lack authority in public
life, problematic culture
•Women participation in economy
increases
•Child labor decreases
•Civil conflicts increase
Impact
Health
Impact
Impact
Impact
•Decreased infant death rate
•Community seeks medical help
for common health issues
•Rampant STDs among people
under 18 to 40, gonorrhea, clap
increase
Social Impact Assessment Guidance for Assessing and Managing the Social Impacts of Projects
(Frank Vanclay 2015); pg. 8
Population
Change in Population
Workers in Area, Temp Workers
Seasonal Residence, Residence
Refugee/Immigration
Dislocation/Relocation
Social Class
Inequality
Family/Individual
Cultural Capital
Religious Practices
Conflict/Cooperation
Politics
Crime, Public Heath, Safety
Entertainment
Community/Institution
Opinions/Beliefs/Position
Groups
Interested Parties
Zoning Regulations
Industry
Housing
Cost of Living
Economic Description
Infrastructure
Environment
“What is the point? We assume that
every time we do anything we know
what the consequences will be, i.e.,
more or less what we intend them to
be. This is not only not always
correct. It is wildly, crazily, stupidly,
cross-eyed-blithering-insectly wrong!”
-Douglas Adams, The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide : Five Complete Novels and One Story
A Community Guide to Social
Impact Assessment
By Rabel J. Burdge; ISBN- 978-0941042178
Social Impact Assessment of Possible Increased Environmental Flow Allocations to
the River Murray System Prepared for Basin Commission
Environmental Flows Project
Prepared by
PROFESSOR HELEN ROSS
Ref: AU1-196
http://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/archived/mdbc-S-Ereports/2208_scoping_study_social_impact_possible_increased_flow_final_report_s
tage1_volume1.pdf
Social Impact Assessment on the Syrian Conflict on Lebanon
http://www.arabstates.undp.org/content/dam/rbas/doc/SyriaResponse/Lebanon%2
0Economic%20and%20Social%20Impact%20Assessment%20of%20the%20Syrian%20
Conflict.pdf