Social Impact Assessment and Evaluation

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

This subject develops the skills to understand and assess the social impacts of development, including international development projects, resource management, and planning proposals. We do this in two ways: by looking at how to assess the impacts of proposed projects, and through evaluation techniques for existing developments. In each case we develop practical skills and interdisciplinary techniques to appraise and evaluate impacts. These techniques draw from anthropology, development studies, and the policy sciences, and move beyond simple summative assessments and financial accounting. We consider the social and environmental contexts in which any form of appraisal is embedded, and the capacities of different actors (from the state to NGOs and community groups) to avert or mitigate negative impacts through learning, negotiation, and citizen participation. Examples, some presented by guest speakers, are drawn from Australia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. At the completion of the subject students will have developed the conceptual skills to understand the impacts of development; be familiar with the range of methodologies and techniques used in impact assessment studies; and will be able to apply this in critical evaluation of the impact of projects and programmes.

Fourth year students: An essay of 3000 words 70 per cent, and a project report 2000 words 30 per cent. Masters students: An essay of 4000 words 70 per cent and a project report of 2000 words 30 per cent.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• understand the role of SIA in the planning systems of western countries

• understand international development projects and their social impacts

• understand critical theories of social impact assessment;

• be able to apply knowledge gained in the subject to conduct Social Impact Assessments and development evaluations.