Social risk identification and management
Summary
This IAIA training course will equip you with current frameworks and tools for identification, assessment and management of social risks, growing your capacity to consistently and systematically mitigate social risks and deliver social value.
This interactive course will draw on the work of the Australian National University Institute for Infrastructure in Society (I2S) to discuss: Key theories and international frameworks for social risk management; the 3Ps (Place, Project, Proponent) Social Risk Scanner Tool; the Infrastructure Engagement Excellence (IEE) Standards and related Project Assessment Tools; and case studies to demonstrate application of the tools. Participants will have the opportunity to bring a current project of their own to work on during the training. Group reflections will be used to share learnings.
Course overview
The course will be delivered by outstanding and experienced educators. Professor Sara Bice is an award-winning teacher and facilitator, having delivered university education and professional training for thousands of students/participants over two decades. Dr Ruth O’Connor is a professional science communicator who has designed and delivered post-graduate and industry training on climate change, knowledge systems and policy engagement. Dr Emerson Sanchez is an experienced university-level educator who has co-convened the compulsory course, Cases in Contemporary Public Policy in the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy Master of Public Policy since 2018.
Course learning outcomes:
Upon successful completion, participants will have the knowledge and skills to:
- understand and identify the foundational principles for social risk identification and assessment
- understand and identify the elements of engagement excellence to mitigate social risks
- apply the 3Ps Social Risk Scanner Tool and IEE Standards Tools to assess major infrastructure projects and improve social performance for better social outcomes.
Day 1: Social Risk and Social Risk Management Frameworks and Tools
Participants will be introduced to key concepts and tools to build their capacity for effective, consistent and systematic social risk management.
At the conclusion of Day 1, participants will have the knowledge and skills to:
- define social risk in a precise way, consistent with leading international frameworks
- determine the level of social risk management maturity of given approaches (e.g. by applying the Social Risk Spectrum)
- identify leading precursors of social risks for major projects by using the 3Ps Social Risk Scanner Tool
- determine which social risk management frameworks will be most applicable to or required for their projects (e.g. IFC Social and Environmental Performance Standards, World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, OECD Blue Dot)
- apply the 3Ps Social Risk Scanner to a project of their choice (pre-agreed with the trainers) or a sample project provided by the trainers.
Day 2: Social Risk and Community Engagement: Frameworks and Tools for on-ground integration
Participants will be introduced to key concepts and tools to support the high quality community engagement necessary for successful, on-ground social risk management.
At the conclusion of Day 2, participants will have the knowledge and skills to:
- define the 10 characteristics of high quality community engagement for major projects, using the Infrastructure Engagement Excellence Standards
- determine the fundamental domains of community engagement that are material to projects on which they are working
- understand how to assess the quality of community engagement delivered on major projects by using IEE Standards Assessment Tools
- apply the IEE Standards Post-Project, Lifecycle Assessment Tool or Scorecard to a project of their choice (pre-agreed) or a sample project provided by the trainers.
Skills and knowledge gaps
This course aims to equip participants to respond capably to intensive and complex project environments, where social risks are playing an increasingly important role. Transformation in the face of climate change will require a range of investment in renewable energy and sustainable, disaster resilient cities, including major infrastructure development. Successful transformation requires the identification of both the social risk and value in these and all developments, which can be achieved via best practice social risk management and community engagement.
Anticipated behavioural and business impacts
This training will improve participants’ capacity to identify social risks consistently and systematically by introducing current, international frameworks. Participants will gain practical tools and skills in applying leading social risk management frameworks. They will learn strategies to engage with communities and stakeholders to address those risks to maximise social value from major infrastructure, including that related to climate adaptation and mitigation.
Who should attend?
Impact assessment, risk management, community engagement, stakeholder management or public participation professionals with a minimum 3 years’ in-field work experience and tertiary-level education. Practitioners from non-social disciplines are welcome and encouraged to attend to support integration of social risks into their work.
Prior experience/knowledge
Participants should have:
- at least three years’ in-field experience in impact assessment, risk management, community/stakeholder engagement or sustainability in major projects
- a university degree
- familiarity with social impact and/or risk management requirements for major projects.
Course presenter(s)
Prof Sara Bice
Sara Bice is Professor and Director, Institute for Infrastructure in Society (I2S) at the Crawford School of Public Policy, the Australian National University, where she also serves as Head, Policy and Governance Program. She is Past President, International Association for Impact Assessment and, in 2020 received the IAIA Outstanding Service Award for her ‘leadership and vision in support of impact assessment’. She has facilitated the learning of thousands of university students and professionals over two decades, working across almost two-dozen countries, including as Professor (Special International Guest) School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing. Sara’s research agenda is cross-cutting and deeply engaged with industry and government. Her research focuses on the intersection of corporations, communities and governments as they negotiate the impacts of major projects, with an aim to mitigate environmental and social risks and optimise potential benefits.
Dr Ruth O'Connor
Dr. O’Connor is an expert in the communication aspects of participatory processes that generate and apply different forms of knowledge to environmental and social issues. Her research in environmental management and current role in major infrastructure development has also explored how these engaged processes can be evaluated. Ruth also draws on extensive experience as an engagement practitioner collaborating with governments, Indigenous groups and landholders to recognise and link knowledge systems to sustainably manage natural resources. She has designed and implemented training courses for climate change professionals and academics seeking to increase their policy impact as well as teaching at University level.
Dr Emerson Sanchez
Dr. Sanchez is ARC Research Fellow at the Institute for Infrastructure in Society, ANU Crawford School of Public Policy. He researches environmental discourses, natural resource politics, social movements, and community engagement. He completed his PhD at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance, University of Canberra where he studied environmental discourses surrounding mining disasters.
Updated: 1 May 2024/Responsible Officer: Crawford Engagement/Page Contact: CAP Web Team
