Public Consultation/Participation Public Consultation/Participation in an EIA Processin an EIA Process

EIA requires that, as much as possible, EIA requires that, as much as possible, both technical / scientific and value both technical / scientific and value

issues be dealt withissues be dealt with . .The involvement of the Public in EIA is, The involvement of the Public in EIA is, therefore, an integral part of EIAtherefore, an integral part of EIA..Adequate public input is importantAdequate public input is important::To identify issues relevant to the To identify issues relevant to the projectprojectFor evaluating their significanceFor evaluating their significanceFor deciding what measures should be For deciding what measures should be implemented to avoid or mitigate implemented to avoid or mitigate these impactsthese impacts..

Purpose of public involvementStakeholder Engagement

Inform the stakeholders about the Inform the stakeholders about the proposal and its likely effectsproposal and its likely effects

Obtain information from communities Obtain information from communities and other stakeholdersand other stakeholders

Listen to community concerns, Listen to community concerns, understand their views and concerns; understand their views and concerns; and and

Take account of the information and Take account of the information and views of the public in the EIA views of the public in the EIA and and decision makingdecision making

Reasons and justification to consult Reasons and justification to consult the publicthe public

The public is better informed about the The public is better informed about the project proposal;project proposal;

Different viewpoints of the project are Different viewpoints of the project are brought forward early in the planning brought forward early in the planning process;process;

Issues and concern can be analyzed an Issues and concern can be analyzed an evaluated;evaluated;

Potential points of disagreement between Potential points of disagreement between partyparty’’s are identified which can then be dealt s are identified which can then be dealt with;with;

Mutual consultation is helpful in building trust Mutual consultation is helpful in building trust among the review participants; andamong the review participants; and

Adequate public input into decision making Adequate public input into decision making process minimizes the reputational impacts to process minimizes the reputational impacts to owner and raises the level of comfort of owner and raises the level of comfort of decision makersdecision makers

Who are the Stakeholders?

Individuals, communities or organizations (Gov & Non-g) who may be affected (negatively or positively ) directly or indirectly by a proposed project

1.1. Communities in the vicinity of Communities in the vicinity of the project and directly affected the project and directly affected by it/its activities by it/its activities (People at risk)(People at risk)

2.2. National, State and local National, State and local authorities authorities

3.3. Communities in the vicinity of Communities in the vicinity of the project but not affected the project but not affected

4.4. Communities not in the vicinity Communities not in the vicinity of the project but are affectedof the project but are affected

Key objectives of public involvementKey objectives of public involvement

To obtain local and traditional To obtain local and traditional knowledge that may be useful for knowledge that may be useful for decision-makingdecision-making

To facilitate consideration of To facilitate consideration of alternatives, mitigation measures and alternatives, mitigation measures and tradeoffstradeoffs

To ensure that important impacts are To ensure that important impacts are not overlooked and benefits are not overlooked and benefits are maximizedmaximized

To reduce conflict through the early To reduce conflict through the early identification of contentious identification of contentious (debatable) issues(debatable) issues

To provide an opportunity for To provide an opportunity for the public to influence project the public to influence project design in a positive manner design in a positive manner (thereby creating a sense of (thereby creating a sense of ownership of the proposal)ownership of the proposal)

To improve transparency and To improve transparency and accountability of decision-accountability of decision-making; andmaking; and

To increase public confidence in To increase public confidence in the EIA processthe EIA process

Understanding StakeholdersUnderstanding Stakeholders

•Language(s) spokenLanguage(s) spoken•Literacy and education level generallyLiteracy and education level generally

•Ethnicity, ethnic minoritiesEthnicity, ethnic minorities•Gender issues, representation of womenGender issues, representation of women

•Mobility issuesMobility issues•Socio-economic characteristicsSocio-economic characteristics

•Potential conflicts between or within Potential conflicts between or within groupsgroups

•Previous [negative] experiences with Previous [negative] experiences with similar projectssimilar projects

•Social customs, values or traditionsSocial customs, values or traditions•Political issuesPolitical issues

Understanding StakeholdersUnderstanding Stakeholders

Designing consultation programDesigning consultation program::

– –What are the likely issues and What are the likely issues and concerns of each groupconcerns of each group??

– –What actual impacts may each group What actual impacts may each group experience (positive & negative)experience (positive & negative)

– –What might be the best way to What might be the best way to engage with each stakeholder groupengage with each stakeholder group??

LevelsLevels and forms of public and forms of public involvementinvolvement

InformingInforming One way flow of information from the One way flow of information from the

proponent to the publicproponent to the public

ConsultingConsulting Two way flow of information between the Two way flow of information between the

proponent and the public with opportunities proponent and the public with opportunities for the public to express views on the for the public to express views on the proposalproposal

ParticipatingParticipating Interactive exchange between the proponent Interactive exchange between the proponent

and the public encompassing shared and the public encompassing shared analysis and agenda setting and the analysis and agenda setting and the development of understood and agreed development of understood and agreed positions on the proposal and its impactspositions on the proposal and its impacts

NegotiatingNegotiating Face to face discussion between the Face to face discussion between the

proponent and key stakeholders to build proponent and key stakeholders to build consensus and reach a mutually acceptable consensus and reach a mutually acceptable resolution of issues resolution of issues

( ( A package of impact mitigation and A package of impact mitigation and compensation measures)compensation measures)

key elements (requirements)key elements (requirements) PP requires building partnerships between PP requires building partnerships between

the public, the proponent, governments, the public, the proponent, governments, and other organizations. and other organizations.

For these partnerships to work and for a For these partnerships to work and for a good outcome of an EIA exercise, a number good outcome of an EIA exercise, a number of key elements (requirements) must be of key elements (requirements) must be observed:observed:

- - Recognition that the Recognition that the ““publicpublic”” consists of a consists of a wide array of individuals and groups with wide array of individuals and groups with different views, perspectives and interests;different views, perspectives and interests;

• Recognition that the public is also an Recognition that the public is also an excellent sure of knowledge, experience and excellent sure of knowledge, experience and expertise;expertise;

• Mutual trust and respect among all partners Mutual trust and respect among all partners necessary;necessary;

• Good understanding of the diversity of Good understanding of the diversity of values, goals and objectives;values, goals and objectives;

• Individual and collective rights and Individual and collective rights and responsibilities for protecting democratic responsibilities for protecting democratic principles and the environment;principles and the environment;

• Mutual recognition and acceptance of Mutual recognition and acceptance of othersothers’’ perceptions, interests and perceptions, interests and aspirations;aspirations;

• Development and implementation of Development and implementation of mutually agreed upon rules and procedures mutually agreed upon rules and procedures for conducting public meetings and for conducting public meetings and consultations. consultations.

Principles of public involvementPrinciples of public involvementThe process should be:The process should be:

InclusiveInclusive(Covers all stakeholders)(Covers all stakeholders)Open and transparentOpen and transparent(Steps and activities are understood)(Steps and activities are understood)RelevantRelevant(Focused on the issues that matter)(Focused on the issues that matter)FairFair(Conducted impartially and without bias (Conducted impartially and without bias

towards any stakeholder)towards any stakeholder)

ResponsiveResponsive to stakeholder requirements and to stakeholder requirements and inputsinputs

CredibleCredible builds confidence and trustbuilds confidence and trust

Factors constraining meaningful Factors constraining meaningful public involvementspublic involvements

PovertyPoverty Remote and rural settingsRemote and rural settings IlliteracyIlliteracy Local values/cultureLocal values/culture LanguagesLanguages Legal systemsLegal systems Interest groupsInterest groups Confidentiality Confidentiality

Why do proponent/government Why do proponent/government avoid involvementavoid involvement??

Common reasons:Common reasons: It is too earlyIt is too early It will take too long and cost too It will take too long and cost too

muchmuch It will stir up oppositionIt will stir up opposition We will only hear from the articulateWe will only hear from the articulate We will raise expectationsWe will raise expectations People will not understandPeople will not understand

Types and Timing of Public Types and Timing of Public InvolvementInvolvement

Stages of Project Development

Public Involvement TechniquePublic Involvement Technique

Small Project Large ProjectSmall Project Large Project

Avenues of performing public Avenues of performing public participationparticipation