SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

(SIA)
 1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Definition of SIA and its utility canons
Diverse definitions exist, due to the idiosyncratic (value laden) meanings and interpretations
usually ascribed to the construct social.

Nevertheless, there is a near-universal agreement that the human is intermittently

interconnected-nobody goes through his/her life singly: people function within and are
influenced by individuals, groups, networks, institutions (foundation stones of social
integration) and values as bases of their identity and frameworks for actions.

Thus, terms such as ex(in)clusion and (dis)integration have become synonymous with
contemporary framing and evaluation of development policies and programmes/initiatives
outcomes.

Drawing from the admirable work of Dharam Ghai & Cynthia Hawitt de Alcantara (1995), Social
thinking is an invitation to analyse established patterns of human relations and values that
bring people together across time and grants them a sense of their life chances.

Thus understood, SIA is conceivable as the process of formalised procedures for (diagnosing),
examining, analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended consequences
of planned interventions (policies, programmes, plans, projects) and likely changes in societal
patterns and processes invoked by such interventions (with apologies to International
Association for Impact Assessment [IAIA], 2003)
 1.0 INTRODUCTION cont.,
Purpose: With a view to bringing about sustainable
(neatly interwoven/integrated & equitable) ecosystem
(i.e., the biophysical and human environment.

Thrust of SIA is that economic growth alone does not

guarantee low deprivations in the quality of lives. Still,
interventions addressing environmental issues tend to
be paradoxical – hence the search for solutions must
equally be continuous.

Thus, central to SIA is the SD principle that , “human

beings are at the centre of development”
 2.Evolution of “Social” Integration in development

• As old as human kind

• Enumeration of populations in the Bible
• British poverty studies in the mid 1880s
• In the contemporary sense, SOCIAL thinking has its roots in
the social indicator movement that began in 1966 with
America Space Agency (NASA) – an investigation into the
social effects of its space exploration programme.
• OECD social indicator programme 1970-82.
• ………
• UNDP HDR initiative since 1990s
• More recently, the World Bank Social Protection Framework.
 4.0 Scope of SIA
Scenario I: INTEGRATED _ Mostly, embedded in
(part and parcel of) EIA/EA studies, and is
conducted under EIA/EA legislation and
procedure.

Scenario II: INDEPENDENT/Stand-alone study.

This is critical when projects are deemed to
portend grossly significant social (and health)
impacts on the implementation setting/context.
 4.0 WHY DO SIA?
GOAL: To provide a scientific basis for ascertaining that the whole life cycle
decisions relating to the proposed intervention/project are in harmony with
established patterns and processes of human relations in the society of interest.

OBJECTIVES:
To comply with the national legislations on EIA/EA as well as regional provisions
and international agreements/conventions on sustainability.

To determine and analyse how a development proposal/intervention may affect

people (adversely and/or favourably).

To identify and propose mitigation measures for the adverse impacts, and
directions for strengthening favourable effects.

To enhance cross-sector wide benefits to the society.

To present baseline evidence to aid in managing potential changes in social

relation patterns and processes ascribed to the proposed intervention.
 5.0 Major forces driving uptake of SIA as a
sustainability enabling tool
• Mounting evidence from research (on climate change, forestry,
industrial pollution and human health, dryland degradation, natural
water resources; also recall monumental publications such as The
Silent Spring [Rachel Carson, 1962], The Limits to Growth [Meadow
et al., 1972], Tragedy of the Commons [Garett Hardin, 1968], Our
Common Future [WCED, 1987]).

• Unrelenting international pressure on development actors

(governments, businesses & CSOs) to embrace co-evolution of the 3
sustainable development stools as the hallmark of development
planning, decision making and actions ( remarkably the conventions
of 1972 in Stockholm, 1992 in Rio de Genaro, 1994 in
Johannesburg, 1995 in Copenhagen and 2012 Rio +20).
 5.0 Major forces driving uptake of SIA … Cont..,
• Turn towards liberal democracy and individual freedom.
• Dominance of market forces in the development policy
and decision making arena.
• Accelerated globalization of economy and its attendant
potential ills on societal cohesion and/or abuse on
established patterns and processes.
• Accelerated switchover to circular economy/green
consumption and production patterns.
• Rapid changes in technology and the constant search for
society-technological embedment.
• Mass media revolution and fast transition to the Big
Data Science era.
 6.0 DIMENSIONS OF THE SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE
Doing SIA commands the professional to pay attention to 4 mutually interactive
world views in formulating impact categories:
 Demographic impacts – potential changes in population size and structure
(age, sex ratio, in-and-out migration rates, resultant demand for social
services such as hospital beds, school places, housing).

 Religious and Cultural impacts - possible changes in shared traditions

(customs, beliefs, norms and value systems), historical sites, cultural artefacts.

 Community or neighbourhood solidarity impacts–changes in social

structures, organisations and relationships >>>influences on relationships,
cohesion, stability, identity and provision of services.

 Human development and happiness related impacts–changes to individual

lifestyle/quality of life and wellbeing, income, employment, governance
(participatory?) sense of security, health and health care services.
 7.0 SOURCES OF DATA FOR SIA
 data on the proposal
 lessons from similar interventions in other contexts
 Published social survey reports, census reports and vital statistical
records.
 Unpublished secondary documents (mimeo) and credible grey
literature such as diaries and archival information/data.
 Basic survey studies and field research
 Historical/travellers tales e.g., (auto)biographies
 Expert knowledge
 8.0 SIA METHODS
Commonly used methods for predicting and
analyzing social impacts include:
 Questionnaire-aided surveys (closed/structured & open-
ended questionnaires)
 Phenomenological/ethnographic approaches
(Examples?????)
 trend extrapolations/projections
 scenario building (case interrogation)
 comparative analysis
 9.0 STEPS IN THE SIA PROCESS
• Develop a Data Collection (including a public
involvement) Plan.
• Screening-determine significant effects and establish
if statutory EIA is required.
• Baseline data needs diagnosis, identification of
possible sources and collection.
• Data collection, analysis and interpretation of results
• Scoping of key issues.
• Projection of estimated effects/ Impact prediction
and proposition of related mitigation measures.
 10. Principles specific to SIA
 Equity considerations in development planning
 Focus is on socially sustainable, long-term implications of
development actions
 Predictability of social effects of planned intervention
 Flexibility to possible modifications on planned interventions to
enhance positive outcomes
 Integral part of the development facets, from inception to
follow-up audits
 Ways to turn affected people into beneficiaries identifiable and
investigated into.
 Principles specific to SIA Cont.
• Embraces pathways to building social and human
capital assets of communities for the benefit of
their individual and collective economic and
democratic wellbeing.
• Open to considerations of possible alternative
options when unavoidable
• Full consideration of possible mitigation
measures, including where communities may
approve the planned interventions, or be
regarded as beneficiaries
• Responsive to local knowledge and experiences
in the intervention context.
 Principles specific to SIA Cont..
• Peacefully conducted/underscores the centrality of
ethical imperatives on social scientific methods; no
use of violent, coercive or intimidating approaches
in relation to the assessment itself or in the course
of implementation of the planned initiative
• Respect for human rights
 11. Assignment
You have been commissioned to carry out an EIA
study for a major highway through your local city
CBD, discuss the social impact perspectives that
would concern you during the EIA exercise. (20
Marks)