Appendix II : Outline for a participatory Social Impact
Assessment
Participatory Social Impact Assessment includes the processes of analyzing, 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. Its primary purpose is to bring about a more sustainable and equitable biophysical and
human environment. (International Association for Impact Assessment, www.iaia.org)
A pโ€SIA can be undertaken in different contexts and for different purposes. The way a pโ€SIA is
performed on behalf of a big multinational corporation as part of that companyโ€s planning and
development may be very different to a pโ€SIA undertaken by a consultant to comply with regulatory
agency requirements, or a pโ€SIA undertaken by a development agency interested in ensuring that their
project has no unintended negative consequences. These, in turn, may be very different to a pโ€SIA
undertaken by staff or students at a local NGO or university on behalf of the local community or a
pโ€SIA undertaken by the local community itself. Each of these applications of pโ€SIA is worthwhile and
the choice may depend on the size of the (actual or intended) farm.