Social Assessment, Engagement and Advice

Many of SRK’s mining clients are active in developing countries. These are often difficult investment environments, where risks include complex political and social issues. Banks that uphold Equator Principles are demanding a more robust approach to social matters, and the Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation emphasize the effective...

Towards the end of 2007, SRK Consulting was commissioned to assist with the preparation of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), as well as a suite of Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) that would allow the client to secure funding from Equator Principles Financial Institutions. The project took...

What should we consider when calculating relocation and resettlement costs from a best-practices point of view? Numerous considerations are applicable in answering this question, specifically because the IFC performance standards indicate that resettlement must leave all parties with equal or better circumstances than before. In order to highlight the total...

Prior to the late 1970s, the environmental and social impacts of large dam developments were not considered a priority in the decision-making and implementation processes of developers constructing dams. Through Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), the voices of sociologists and environmentalists, as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and community...

Stakeholder consultations are generally considered an essential part of the impact assessment process, as the environmental policies in many countries have been influenced by internationally-accepted best practice, particularly the standards of the World Bank Group. Nevertheless, in practice, implementing the stakeholder consultation process can vary significantly from country to country...

In terms of current international standards and in the regulatory requirements of many countries, many mining and industrial projects require a full Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Management Plan (ESMP). While an ESIA is critical for identifying and assessing project-related impacts, it is the management plan that shows...

Community consultation is a key part of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process. On behalf of Oromin Joint Venture Group (Oromin), SRK Consulting Canada recently initiated a public consultation program as part of the ESIA process for Oromin’s potential new mine at Sabodala in Senegal. The Oromin Sabodala...