• A Social Science or Environmental related degree or diploma, or other degree or diploma paired with postgraduate qualifications in a social related discipline; or
• Having worked in the community/stakeholder engagement field for at least 4 years (if you do not have the relevant degree/diploma)
• If you have a degree/diploma at least one year of relevant experience undertaking and reporting on SIA studies, and/or in the administration of a SIA process; and
• Reading, writing and speaking proficiency of the English language; and
• Access to a smart phone, tablet, desktop or laptop computer, an email address, and access to web-based video conferencing (e.g., Skype) and YouTube: and
• Access to the internet

If you do not meet these requirements but are interested in taking the course, please contact kiesha@iaia.org to determine if this course is right for you. We also have mentors that can speak other languages such as Spanish and German, so if you are not too confident about your English speaking abilities, please talk to us and we will see how we can accommodate you.

• Unit 1
  • Module 1: Introduction to SIA
  • Module 2: The SIA Process
  • Module 3: Screening and Scoping
• Unit 2
  • Module 4: Social Baseline Study
  • Module 5: Data Collection for SIA
  • Module 6: Impact Identification
• Unit 3
  • Module 7: Attribution of Significance to Impacts
  • Module 8: Mitigation and Enhancement Measures
  • Module 9: Social Impact Management Plan
• Unit 4
  • Module 10: Report Structure and Contents
  • Module 11: International Standards and Human Rights
  • Module 12: Other Social Frameworks

The purpose of the “Social Impact Assessment” course of IAIA’s online Professional Development Program is to provide people involved in social impact assessment (SIA) with training and insight in the basic “tools” needed to carry out their SIA responsibilities. It also serves as an introduction to SIA for people just entering the field and professionals that manage Social and Environmental Impact Management Processes.

Managing or participating in a SIA study or review process requires both knowledge and experience, so it is not expected that the course will equip you with the expertise to lead a SIA study or review. It will equip you with a clear understanding of the SIA Process and what it involves and provide a solid foundation to develop your professional skills further.

The social environment encompasses many aspects, making it easy to feel overwhelmed when beginning an SIA. This course deals with the basic requirements for a project-based SIA study and has been divided in 12 modules. It starts with an introduction to SIA, and the principles that guide the practice of SIA. The first few modules deal with the “design phase” of a typical SIA study – the process, screening and scoping and developing a social baseline. The next few modules deal with the “analysis phase” of a SIA study – collection of primary data, identification of impacts and attributing significance to the impacts. The last modules deal with the future “implementation phase” – management measures and social impact management plans. The last three modules include report writing, international standards and human rights, and other social frameworks that can be used as tools. Each student will have a mentor and there will be some group exercises throughout the course. There is a pragmatic approach to assignments and the course is meant to be accessible and inclusive, especially to students from countries that do not have easy access to SIA training.