We offer a range of social consulting services that caters for the needs of the public and private sectors in Kenya and elsewhere on the continent. These services add value to other product packages offered to our clients, such as Environmental Management and Mine Closure Planning. The social science service offering includes the following:
Nearly all large-scale projects require some form of SIA or Social Risk Assessment, either as part of the environmental authorization process or to inform project design and planning. Envires is conversant in international best-practice standards (such as those enshrined in the Equator Principles, World Bank policies and IFC Performance Standards) with regard to socio-economic assessment. We also have extensive experience in undertaking such assessments according to the local legislative requirements of various African countries.
If a proposed project will involve physical displacement (in which households are relocated to make way for a project footprint) or economic displacement (in which people lose assets, access to resources or other sources of livelihood), best-practice standards require that a RAP be developed during the early stages of project design. The RAP should specify which procedures will be followed to mitigate adverse effects, compensate losses, and provide development benefits to persons and communities displaced persons. Envires has experience in RAP development and implementation in several countries throughout Africa and at various scales, ranging from less than ten households to several thousands.
Methods applied during social research (whether in the context of socio-economic assessment, resettlement planning, SLP development, or as a stand-alone service) must be adapted to local circumstances and to the questions at hand. Envires is proficient in a wide range of recognized social research methodologies for data collection and interpretation. These include:
Conducting a transparent and independent stakeholder engagement process has become a key component of any development project and is required by law and international financiers. The stakeholder engagement team has extensive experience in complying with the Equator Principles, World Bank Guidelines and the IFC performance standards. Consultation always takes into account the in-country legal requirements as well.