FNE3203 Environment and Social Impact Assessment

Environment and social Impact Assessment are assessments that entail assessment of either positive or negative impacts that a proposed project may have on the environment and society. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider the ensuing environmental impacts when deciding whether to proceed with a project. ESIAs are unique in that they do not require adherence to a predetermined environmental outcome, but rather they require decision ¬makers to account for environmental values in their decisions and to justify those decisions in light of detailed environmental studies and public comments on the potential environmental impacts of the proposal. This course delves into the details of ESIA with reference to guidelines for Uganda. 

Course objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to;

• Describe the key aspects of control and quality assurance in environmental monitoring data.
• Explain  the key activities in an Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) 
• Describe the role of ESIA in planning for sustainable natural resource management.
• Describe the significance of ESIA in decision-making processes in the management and governance of natural resources.
• Discuss the methods used to ascertain the roles of stakeholders in any ESIA.  
• Discuss the effectiveness of ESIA legislation and regulatory framework to project development and implementation.
• Describe the relevant methods for generating terms of reference for an environment impact study.
• Explain the process of any social impact assessment.

Learning outcomes 
On successful completion of this course, the student should demonstrate capacity to:

• Understand the key aspects of control and quality assurance in environmental monitoring data.
• Articulate the key activities to be implemented in an Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) 
• Appreciate the role of EIA in planning for sustainable natural resource management.
• Articulate the significance of EIA in decision-making processes in management and governance of natural resources.
• Apply various methods to conduct a stakeholder analysis in ESIA.  
• Appreciate the relevance of ESIA legislation and regulatory framework in conservation of natural resources.
• Apply the relevant methods for generating terms of reference for an environment impact study.
• Conduct a social impact assessment.