1. What is Social Impact Assessment (SIA) SIA first emerged in the 1970s in the U.S, as a way to assess the impacts on society of certain development schemes and projects before they go ahead. Standard Definition by International Principles of SIA: Social Impact Assessment (SIA) includes 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. In general term, SIA is analysing, monitoring and managing the social consequences of development.

2. SIA SIA also encompasses: empowerment of local people; enhancement of the position of women, minority groups and other disadvantaged members of society; capacity building; increase in equity; and poverty reduction. By identifying social impacts in advance: (1) better decisions can be made and (2) mitigation measures can be taken

3. Core Values of SIA 1. Fundamental human rights. 2. The rule of law and justice protect the fundamental human rights 3. People have a right to live and work in an environment which is conducive to good health and to a good quality of life 4. People have a right to be involved in the decision making 5. Local knowledge and experience can be used to enhance planned interventions.

4. Objectives To ensure a more sustainable and equitable biophysical and human environment. To ensure that development maximizes its benefits and minimizes its costs, especially those costs borne by people.

5. People’s way of life Their culture Their community Their political systems Their environment Their health and wellbeing Their personal and property rights Their fears and aspirations A Convenient Way of Conceptualizing Social Impacts

6. How does SIA Differs from Other Types of Assessment SIA emphasizes social dimensions  Peoples way of life  Their culture  Their community  SIA differs from economic assessment as it emphasizes the non monetary effect of an action  Social impacts are much broader than the limited issues often considered in EIA

7. Why Should We Bother With SIA Address the concerns of all interested and affected parties Identify alternatives to be considered Focus planning of issues of concern Improve credibility Reduce opposition and conflict Reduce the level of misinformation Helps meet Government requirements Creates a better understanding of a programme Provide additional sources of expertise and information

8. Differences in SIA between developed and developing countries In developed countries normally only one method is needed. But in developing countries requires research methods both from developed and developing countries.  the available basic data is often lacking in developing countries  corruption, poor legislation, high social segregation, undemocratic administration and many other deprivations in developing countries  in many developing countries the organisations and administrative bodies suffer from opacity

9. The SIA Process Public Participation Identification of Alternatives Baseline Conditions Scoping Projection of estimated Effects Predicting Responses to Impacts Indirect & Cumulative Impacts Changes in Alternatives Mitigation Monitoring Audit

10. Phases of SIA Four main phases  Assessment and Prediction,  Mitigation,  Monitoring  Audit and Analysis

11. Assessment and Prediction  Determination of the potential impacts of a specific intrusion on a community before the commencement of any change  Forms part of the conventional Environmental Impact Statement  Used in appraising the costs and benefits of projects  Used to determine whether approval should be given to the project

12. Mitigation Involves an ongoing role in the development process by SIA practitioners To minimize any impact that does occur Any unforeseen impact can be managed in a cost-efficient manner

13. Monitoring Key component to any social assessment process Extends beyond the role of mitigation Identify the deviation from the proposed action Checking that the change that occurs has been anticipated Appropriate mitigation strategies has been developed

14. Audit & Analysis A review of the whole procedure of SIA as it was applied to the specific project In many cases predictions will be different to outcome This does not make the predictions wrong, nor does it make original assessments invalid Care needs to be placed on the interpretation of predictions at the assessment stage, and during any audit. Local expertise be used in the conduct of the SIA Lessons learnt from one SIA process can be applied to those that follow

15. Problems in Implementing SIA According to some definition, only indirect impacts are included in SIA, which take form after the project. The co-operation between different sectors in SIA is often deficient and superficial. Often SIA professionals do not take in concern the needs and interest of business professionals and decision makers. SIA professionals concentrate on the traditional facts and figures rather than logical, detailed, and timely as well as “emotional” data and opinions. The environmentally and socially just development projects are often abandoned due to the low efficiency. Reports are often too long, complicated and unusable both for the decision makers and public.

16. SIA in Practice Flood Control:- 1.Structural:- aims at protecting an area up to a certain level of flooding Structural controls can cause impoverishing of floodplain’s agriculture, natural vegetation, wildlife and livestock populations. Also increased sediment content in the river can cause physical changes and alter water flows in the estuary and affect fish populations.

17. SIA in Practice 2. Non-structural: aims at reduction of loss due to floods by administrative or managerial measures. Often the rural population whose livelihood is dependent on natural flooding cycles are interfered by flood control Unfortunately often the rural dwellers do not have adequate compensation for the incurred losses

18. Example of Inadequate SIA China:-  Over 3,500 tones of hazardous wastes are dumped each week to roadsides, ponds and rivers, which have made the water undrinkable  About 40% of the potable water in the urban areas of the country is polluted.  43 of the 47 major cities in Guangdong province suffer from polluted groundwater.  In 1994, a factory in Zheijiang province discharged 30 tones chemicals into Fu Chun Lake and poisoned around 400 villagers nearby.  This is a common picture of all the developing countries where economical growth is often the main aim and society/environment is given little or no concern.

19. Map of China’s Communes.

20. Thank You