Establishing an Environment

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Establishing an Environment Social Assessment
Professionals (ESAP) Network in the Philippines
Notes from the Field
Mary Ann Pollisco-Botengan Ma. Dulce M.
Cacha and Vanderleaf Capalungan World Bank
Consultants

• World Bank Office-Manila
• June 14, 2005

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A. Location of Consultations

• Metro Manila through CSSP-UP Diliman
• University of San Carlos Knowledge for
  Development Center, Cebu City
• Silliman University - Knowledge for Development
  Center, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
• Palawan State University - Knowledge for
  Development Center, Puerto Princesa, Palawan
• University of Southeastern Philippines
  Knowledge for Development Center, Davao City

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B. Schedules
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C. Rationale

• Premised on providing a sustainable venue for the
  interests of ESA practitioners within the context
  of the Country Systems on environment and social
  assessment.
• Channel for advancing innovation, development and
  communication of best practices in impact
  assessment with meaningful public participation.

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C. Rationale

• Venue for professionals to regularly meet.
• Professionals driven by a desire and need to
  understand prevailing environmental and social
  issues and problems, share experiences, insights,
  tools and best practices.
• Professionals in pursuit of uplifting standards
  of ESAP.

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D. Coverage of the Network
Shall cover the whole spectrum of the PEISS, as
well as other assessment studies, highlighting
meaningful public participation with acceptable
disclosure mechanisms to participating entities
Areas of concern

• Impact Assessment on projects involving
  Agriculture,Natural Resources, Biodiversity and
  Ecology, and Indigenous Peoples
• Improving Environmental Management Systems

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• Specialized impact assessment studies
• ü      Health Impact Assessment
• ü      Risk Assessment
• ü      Conflict Assessment
• ü      Social Impact Assessment
• National and international policies / covenance
  affecting / governing impact assessment within
  the country or even the need to help develop
  legislation in support of meaningful impact
  assessment activities
• Public participation and disclosure
• Improving empirical methods for impact assessment

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E. General Functions of the Network

• Promote knowledge sharing
• Establish support networks among ESA
  Professionals
• Generate awareness to local and national
  environmental and social issues
• Increase competencies in the conduct of impact
  assessment, i.e., through peer review and
  certification
• Promote solidarity among ESA Professionals
• Officially link with international networks

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F. Membership, Selection and Criteria of Members
Common Across Sites

• Membership to the Network is open to ESA
  Practitioners from various disciplines and
  professions.
• Membership is voluntary, on an individual basis
  and not corporate or by institution.
• Commitment and availability

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From EMB (FGD) Select KIIs

• "Professionals " only by invitation but may also
  be rejected
• Pass exams subscribe to code to ethics with
  means for expulsion because of bad practice
• Open to all with means for black listing members
  due to bad practice/outputs

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Emerging Issues

• Core group viz General membership
• Community of Practice viz Certified body of
  Professionals

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G. Organization
Network Structure

• May start as a loose group of individuals
• May eventually register with SEC
• May elect officers among the members
• Core groups across the country may be initiated
  and confederated at the national level
• Board of Directors at National level
  automatically coming from the various core groups

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Network Headquarters

• Institution with unquestionable integrity and
  credibility with availability and/or
  accessibility to resources and information.
• Knowledge for Development Center (KDC) of select
  Universities across the country.
• In areas where there are no KDCs, any existing
  institution perceived by locals to have
  indubitable integrity and credibility with
  matching resources may be identified as the
  Network headquarters.

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KDC Function Rationale

• As Secretariat / Coordinating Body Command
  Center
• KDC is perceived to have the necessary resources,
  public confidence, objectiveness and credibility

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H. Activities for Operationalization
Activities may include but not limited to the
following

• Formative meetings to localize the following
  areas of concern

• The need for and purpose of establishing the
  Network (Mission-Vision) Scanning for local
  ordinances/regulations in support of the
  establishment of a Network such as ESAP

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• Roles and responsibilities of members and
  leadership
• Acceptable schedule of meetings
• Acceptable modes of communication
• Identification of needed resources for
  sustainability (material and financial)
• Possible location of Network headquarters
• Line-up of activities within a given timeframe

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• Develop Web page with news, updates and
  announcements
• Review of legislation affecting the locality as
  well as ongoing or newly submitted EIAs/SIAs
• Monthly fora with topics relating to ESAP
  concerns
• Annual national conventions among other ESAP
  Networks as guided by a theme of key interest to
  ESAP members

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I. Network Code of Ethics
A Code of Ethics will be developed that defines
the objectives of an ESA Professional, with due
emphasis on ethical behavior to serve as guide in
the practice as well as development of the ESA
Professional.
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J. Sustainability

• Not expected to operate and generate profits for
  its members.
• Expected to operate through support of members
  and other individuals or organizations.
• May generate funds from organizational fees and
  charges such as the following

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• Membership fees
• Charges or fees assessed or charges from specific
  activities, such as field trips, seminars,
  training and conferences, tours, etc.
• Subscription fees to organizations publications,
  whether printed or on the WEB and
• Donations or grants solicited for specific
  activities.

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G. Network Status Across Sites
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THANK YOU !!!