Social Assessment
Social assessment (SA) provides a framework for incorporating participation and social analysis into the design and delivery of Bank-assisted operations. Since there are many social variables which potentially affect project impacts and success, SAs must be selective and strategic, and focus on issues of operational relevance. Prioritizing critical issues, and determining how to address them, requires consultation with stakeholders, and other forms of data collection and analysis. SAs are carried out in a project context in order to: (a) identify key stakeholders and establish an appropriate framework for their participation in project selection, design, implementation, and monitoring, and evaluation; (b) ensure that project objectives and incentives for change are acceptable to the range of people intended to benefit, and that gender, ethnicity and other social differences are taken into account in project design; (c) assess the social impact of investment projects, and where adverse impacts are identified, determine how they can be avoided, minimized, or substantially mitigated; and (d) develop the capacity to enable participation, resolve conflict, permit service delivery, and carry out mitigation measures in ways that are socially sound.
Summary: | Social assessment (SA) provides a
framework for incorporating participation and social
analysis into the design and delivery of Bank-assisted
operations. Since there are many social variables which
potentially affect project impacts and success, SAs must be
selective and strategic, and focus on issues of operational
relevance. Prioritizing critical issues, and determining how
to address them, requires consultation with stakeholders,
and other forms of data collection and analysis. SAs are
carried out in a project context in order to: (a) identify
key stakeholders and establish an appropriate framework for
their participation in project selection, design,
implementation, and monitoring, and evaluation; (b) ensure
that project objectives and incentives for change are
acceptable to the range of people intended to benefit, and
that gender, ethnicity and other social differences are
taken into account in project design; (c) assess the social
impact of investment projects, and where adverse impacts are
identified, determine how they can be avoided, minimized, or
substantially mitigated; and (d) develop the capacity to
enable participation, resolve conflict, permit service
delivery, and carry out mitigation measures in ways that are
socially sound. |
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