Activity IAa2.1

Objective

Impacted Party Engagement

Concept

Impact Assessment

Activity Type

Impact

Rating System Application

B+I:D B+I:O O+M:D O+M:O

Community Development SEAL 4 · 10 · 11 · 16 · 17

Fully inform community members about the project and likely impacts

Scope

The Owner shall develop and disseminate responsible communication(s) ("communication") to all potential impacted parties that might be affected by the project, detailing the project's nature and anticipated impacts.

Requirements

Act to Avoid Harm ²⁰

01.
Identification and assessment of impacts on vulnerable groups related to content and visuals used in its communication, including:
1. a.
  assessment of the risks and impacts of the communication on vulnerable groups identified in IAa1.5 including analyzing the content and visuals used in its communication to revise any perceived as discriminatory or harmful
2. b.
  a land acknowledgment, recognizing the Indigenous peoples and their traditional territories
02.
Respect for rights shall include:
1. a.
  information disclosure that a reasonable person would not deem highly offensive or invasive
2. b.
  written consent for including information about persons or groups in communication
3. c.
  informed consents and recognition to the owners and/or creators if using musical or artistic material in communication
4. d.
  accuracy of all sources
03.
Communication dissemination shall include:
1. a.
  appropriate methods of communication dissemination based on the demographics and preferences of the impacted party groups
2. b.
  communication that is accessible to all, including those with disabilities or those who speak different languages, by providing necessary accommodations such as translations or sign language interpreters
3. c.
  a sample size that reflects a 95% confidence level with a 5% margin of error based on the population size of the geographical boundaries identified in Activity IAa1.5

Benefit Impacted Parties ²¹

04.
Information used to inform community members (see Definition below) fully shall include:
1. a.
  the project's goals, objectives, and scope
2. b.
  similar projects elsewhere to give them a sense of how they are likely to be affected
3. c.
  how they can provide feedback, opinions, and grievances
4. d.
  their procedural rights in the regulatory and social performance framework for the project (i.e., provide unambiguous procedures for impacted parties to request information and raise concerns as well as their options for remedy through the applicable legal system should they feel their rights have been violated)

Contribute to Solutions ²²

05.

A community survey with a statistically significant sample size (at least 95% confidence level with a 5% margin of error) to determine that impacted parties clearly understand the project and its likely impacts.

Indicators

The performance indicator is the percentage of likely impacted community members fully informed according to the requirements. The first context indicator is the number of unique individuals reached. The second context indicator is the number of likely impacted community members.

To calculate the performance indicator:

Identify the sample size that represents a 95% confidence level with a 5% margin of error for community-impacted parties (see Community member's definition below in Guidance).
Identify the number of likely impacted parties reached during the Activity (counted as unique views; see Definition below).
Calculate the percentage of likely impacted parties informed.

P = (S_R / N) × 100

P =: percentage of likely impacted community members fully informed
S_R =: number of likely impacted community members reached
N =: total sample size that represents a 95% confidence level with a 5% margin of error

Scoring

Outcome threshold

The target outcome threshold is seventy-five percent (75%).

Points assignment

Points	Percentage of Impacted Parties Informed
1 point	50% impacted parties informed
2 points	75% impacted parties informed
3 points	95% impacted parties informed

Documentation

01.

List of financial, human, and material resources utilized for this activity.
02.
Risk assessment that includes:
1. a.
  a listing of the identified vulnerable groups such as ethnic minoritized groups, religious minoritized groups, children, and marginalized groups
2. b.
  documentation of the method of analysis used to assess if the communication's content and visuals could be perceived as discriminatory or harmful to vulnerable groups
3. c.
  documentation of the resolution to resolve any deficiencies in 2b
4. d.
  a documented land acknowledgment as part of the communication
03.

All written consents, informed consents, and a list of the credible corroborating sources for evidence of the accuracy of cited sources.
04.
Table listing:
1. a.
  all methods used to inform impacted parties fully
2. b.
  the number reached through each method
3. c.
  impacted party group reached
4. d.
  content of communication
5. e.
  accommodations made for accessibility
05.
A copy of communication content and materials, including:
1. a.
  project goals, objectives, and scope
2. b.
  information on similar projects elsewhere (if this is a net new type for the area)
3. c.
  procedures for impacted parties to raise concerns and request information
06.

The Community survey report summarizes the results of the community survey to determine impacted parties' clear understanding of the project and its likely impacts. The report should include details of the statistically significant sample size (95% or higher).

Definitions

Unique view (appears in Requirement ) — a term used in marketing analytics which refers to a person who has viewed the communication at least once and is counted only once in the reporting time period.
Community members (appears in Requirement ) — ²³ refer to individuals or groups of people who live near the project site or property as well as those who may be impacted by changes at the site such as workers, visitors, commuters, and shoppers. It can also include second home owners, including people who are 'weekenders' and/or those who regularly holiday there. Additionally, there may be informal settlements, including illegal immigrants or unhoused populations, who may not be considered legitimate impacted parties by project managers but are still rights-holders from a human rights perspective and therefore their impacts must still be considered.

Guidance

On responsible communication characteristics

According to ISO 26000:2010, Guidance on social responsibility, information relating to social responsibility should be²⁴:

Complete – address all significant activities and impacts related to social responsibility
Understandable – both the language used, and the manner in which the material is presented, including how it is organized, should be accessible for the impacted parties intended to receive the information
Responsive – be responsive to impacted party interests
Accurate – be factually correct and should provide sufficient detail to be useful and appropriate for its purpose
Balanced – be balanced and fair and should not omit relevant negative information concerning the impacts of an organization's activities
Timely – out of date information can be misleading. Where information describes activities during a specific period of time, identification of the period of time covered will allow impacted parties to compare the performance of the organization with its earlier performance and with the performance of other organizations; and
Accessible – be available to the impacted parties concerned

On methods to reach community members

There are several ways to reach all community members, including:

Provide clear and legible signage on each project site displaying information on how to contact the executing entity in case of concerns or complaints
Public meetings can be held in a central location, at multiple times, to be accessible to all community members. This can be an opportunity to provide information about the project and to hear feedback from community members.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be used to reach a large number of people quickly and easily. This can be an effective way to share information about the project and to engage with community members.
Flyers and brochures can be distributed throughout the community (individual mailings, posted in community centers, churches, groceries, etc) to provide information about the project and to encourage community members to get involved.
Working with community leaders such as local government officials, religious leaders, and business owners can help to ensure that information about the project is disseminated throughout the community.

Referenced Source

ISO 26000:2010, Guidance on social responsibility (2021)
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), Article 19
United Nations OHCHR Declaration on Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and to Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War (1978), Articles 2(3) and 3(2)