Baseline studies use a range of methods to establish a starting point for projects. They provide valuable social and economic information which is critical to project decision-making and predict impacts.Social and Cultural Elements
Population and demographics
Social diversity
Socio-cultural resources
Community profiling (health, housing, education, social issues, justice, etc.)
Cultural heritage and archaeology
Social services and infrastructure
Cultural property identification
Social capital and community capacity analysis
Land tenure, use and management
Institutions and governance
Cross-cultural mapping
Economic Elements
Development history
Micro/Macro economic analysis (local, regional, national)
Employment
Development indicators and local capacity
Physical infrastructure
Stakeholder analysis
Policy and regulatory systems
Community Economic Development issuesA Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) assesses the potential short, medium and longer term consequences of a planned development on people, communities and economies, and develops strategies for the ongoing monitoring and management of those impacts. Aspects of SEIAs can include:
Identification of interested and affected people and communities
Coordination and engagement of key stakeholders
Identification and forecasting of benefits and costs
Social risk analysis
Analysis of induced development
Displacement and resettlement planning
Alternatives and sensitivity analyses
Community capacity building
Mitigation recommendations and planning
Development of social management and monitoring plans
Identification of sustainable development opportunities
Community engagement involves a broad range of tools and techniques to facilitate understanding, share information, and engage all stakeholders.
Services include:
Dialogue and consultation with potentially affected groups
Community relations programme and planning
Creation of culturally relevant outreach and education materials
Identification and development of capacity building programmes and public participation programmes
Facilitation and animation, particular to marginalized, excluded, and vulnerable groups and peoples
Partnership building and facilitation
Cross-cultural communication processes and sensitivity training
The identification and analysis of traditional and indigenous knowledge is a valuable tool that can improve our understanding of environmental impacts, assist decision-making on projects and increase the benefits associated with the development.
Services include:
Identification and integration of traditional and indigenous knowledge into the project development and implementation at an equitable level to science
Cultural property identification and interpretation, including archaeology and traditional land use
Community values identification and strengthening within indigenous communities
Culturally sensitive consultation and partnership building
Development and implementation of capacity building programmes throughout the process
Incorporation of cross cultural sensitivity into all elements of the project
Effective planning and policy development are essential to the long-term success of a potential project and to ensure realistic and results-oriented development and environmental and social sustainability.
Rescan can provide:
Social and economic management plans
Sustainability planning
Re-development/ re-settlement plans
Project/Component Mitigation plans
Community economic development and planning
Policy analysis and implementation
Archaeology and cultural heritage management plans
Public consultation and disclosure action plans
Monitoring and evaluation activities are key to improving effectiveness, enhancing sustainability and achieving realistic results for a project.
Types of services include:
Identification of monitoring and evaluation indicators and measures
Development of monitoring and evaluaqtion tools
Monitoring plans
Evaluation frameworks
Development of logic models
Monitoring and evaluation reporting and project recommendations
