This document provides an overview of social impact assessments. It defines social impact assessments as a form of analysis used to strategically measure impacts on social conditions and social outcomes from new or existing developments. The document outlines key objectives of social impact assessments, including making better informed decisions, assessing and resolving conflicts, and empowering and increasing social value for communities. It also discusses stakeholders, variables to assess, frameworks like logic modeling and theories of change, and provides several example social impact assessment reports and guides.

1. SOCIAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
AmeriCorps, Volunteers in Service to America
Illinois Campus Compact 2015
Candace Metcalf
Chicago Illinois

3. “One goes to college to learn, it seems, not to
think. When one enters the portals of
learning, one leaves the dearest pleasures--
solitude, books and imagination--outside with
the whispering pines. I suppose I ought to
find some comfort in the thought that I am
laying up treasures for future enjoyment, but
I am improvident enough to prefer present
joy to hoarding riches against a rainy day.”
― Helen Keller, The Story of My Life

4. What is an Impact Assessment?
Is a form of analysis used to strategically measure
impacts on social conditions and social outcomes for
any new development and existing developments. To
better understand the effects of the social group
who will be affected by such developments.

5. Socio-cultural/
Spiritual/Behaviors/
Values/ Opinions
Policy
Social/Environmental
OtherAdverse
Social risks/Conflicts
Empowering people/
Capital-Financial &
Human
Historical/Political
• A New Government Policy e.g. Marriage Equality
• Change in Spiritual Beliefs or Cultural Practices
• Conflict and Displacement or Resettlement of Refugees
• An Industrial Plant
• Global Warming Prevention

6. Key Objectives
Drive Change and focus on the Social Mission
Making better informed decisions, improves outcomes
Can assess and resolve conflicts between social, environmental,
economic, urban and rural developments
Informs and empowers the people (including marginalized),
increases social value/ return on social investment.
Core principle is accountability and ethical development

7. Key Objectives
Identifying changes, the culture dynamics and society involved
Understanding baseline demographics
Creating a relationship with the community, become or
identifying a mediator for the many different groups of
people of society.
Get people involved from that society, informed awareness.
Ultimately be a positive advocate for what the people want!

8. Our central purpose is to provide psychotherapeutic help for refugees and
asylum seekers, especially children and families of recently arrived refugees
who are having problems of adjustment. ~Refugee Therapy Center
Focused & Clear
What do we want to accomplish?
Social Mission Statement

9. A Comprehensive Guide for Social Impact Assessment, Center for Good Governance
(Rietberg-McCracken and Narayan 1998); 2006

10. Social Impact Assessment Guidance for Assessing and Managing the Social Impacts of Projects
(Frank Vanclay 2015)

11. Effective Planning
Phase 1-Exploring Issues related to the project
Phase 2-Analysis and assessment of important
variables
Phase 3- Implement Strategies
Phase 4- Management and Monitoring
Social Impact Assessment Guidance for Assessing and Managing the Social Impacts of Projects
(Frank Vanclay 2015); pg. 8

12. Community
•Residents
•Economic
•Governance
University
•Project Proponents
•Policy
•Community Partners
•Resources
The Public
•Message of
Development
•Opinions and Beliefs
Other
Working with Refugees

13. Stake Holders Roles/Significance
External Stake Holders Role in project Position/Assistance on
issues
Level of significance to
project
US AID Partner Offering delivery
assistance
High
Peace Corps Partner Staff temporary Housing
Assistance
High
NGO #1 Partner Raising Donations High
NGO #2 Non-Partner Considering helping Low
US State Dept. Non-partner Monitoring conflict in
region
Low
Other
Internal and External need to be reviewed

14. Logic Modeling
Problem/
Situation
Input Activities Outputs Immediate
Outcomes
Progress /
Time frame
Goals
Achieved
Long Term
Outcomes
Refugees
need
shelter,
food, water,
basic
subsistence,
3500
displaced
due to
conflicts in
region
Social
media
fundraising,
already
established
network
with
NGOS
Drafting a
fundraising
plan, draft
a
networking
/partnershi
p plan,
Identify
other
sources to
tap-social
capital
Establish
funds
acquire
tents, food,
clean water,
soap,
blankets, 3
emergency
support
staff
Est.
$2000.00
per refugee.
Formal
Plan of
delivering
aid.
Timeline
established
by (date)
Plan to
complete
activities by
2 weeks
through
(date.)
Formal
plan by
(date)
Connected
with 3
strong
NGOS in
our
Network
willing to
support
cause by
sharing on
social
media and
promote
cause.
Refugees
receive
shelter,
food, water,
soap, 3
emergency
staff to
assist for 2
months.
• Theories of Change
• Impact Value Chain
Each Item Needs to be focused and measurable in order to address relation between
Processes and actions that contribute to the outcomes.

15. Key Information, Variables, and Impacts

16. Infrastructure
Economic
HealthCommunity
Environment
Pros
•Government
Support
Cons
•Cost of Living
•Inflation
•Lack of income
Pros •1 medical clinic
Cons
•Dirt roads
•No phone lines
•No shelter
Pros
• Low birth death rate
• Community seeks
medical help for
common health
issues.
Cons
• Ramped STDS among
people are 18 to 40,
gonorrhea, clap,
Pros• Safe water
Cons•Air Pollution
Pros• Low divorce rate
Cons
•Women lack authority in
public life
•Women participation in
economy
•Child labor
•Civil conflicts

17. Infrastructure
Economic
HealthCommunity
Environment
Impact
• Government Support
increase
Impact
• Cost of Living policy
created
• Inflation
• Lack of income
decreases
Impact
•Increased access to
vaccines
Impact
• Dirt roads get paved
• Increased access to phone lines
•Shelter Improves
Impact
• Decreased infant death
rate
• Community seeks medical
help for common health
issues.
Impact
• Ramped STDS among
people are 18 to 40,
gonorrhea, clap, increase
Impact•Water contamination
Impact•Improved Air Quality
Impact• Increase divorce rate
Impact
• Women lack authority in
public life, problematic-
culture
• Women participation in
economy increase
• Child labor decrease
• Civil conflicts increase

18. Social Impact Assessment Guidance for Assessing and Managing the Social Impacts of Projects
(Frank Vanclay 2015); pg. 8

19. Population
Change in Population
Workers in Area, Temp Workers
Seasonal Residence, Residence
Refugee/Immigration
Dislocation/Relocation
Social Class
Inequality
Family/Individual
Cultural Capital
Religious Practices
Conflict/Cooperation
Politics
Crime, Public Heath, Safety
Entertainment

20. Community/Institution
Opinions/Beliefs/Position
Groups
Interested Parties
Zoning Regulations
Industry
Housing
Cost of Living
Economic Description
Infrastructure
Environment

21. “What is the point? We assume
that every time we do anything
we know what the consequences
will be, i.e., more or less what we
intend them to be. This is not only
not always correct. It is wildly,
crazily, stupidly, cross-eyed-
blithering-insectly wrong!”
-Douglas Adams, The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide : Five Complete Novels and One Story

22. A Community Guide to Social Impact Assessment
By Rabel J. Burdge; ISBN- 978-0941042178

24. Social Impact Assessment of Possible Increased Environmental Flow
Allocations to the River Murray System Prepared for Basin Commission
Environmental Flows Project
Prepared by
PROFESSOR HELEN ROSS
Ref: AU1-196
http://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/archived/mdbc-S-E-
reports/2208_scoping_study_social_impact_possible_increased_flow_fin
al_report_stage1_volume1.pdf
State Dept guide http://www.socialimpact.com/press-releases/DOS-
booklet-070213.pdf
Social Impact Assessment on the Syrian Conflict on Lebanon
http://www.arabstates.undp.org/content/dam/rbas/doc/SyriaResponse/
Lebanon%20Economic%20and%20Social%20Impact%20Assessment%20o
f%20the%20Syrian%20Conflict.pdf