Social Impact Assessment

CONSULTING SERVICES

I provide a variety of consulting services. A few examples are listed below. In addition, I have considerable experience in the environmental and natural resource area, in both U.S. and international settings (see also the section on Short Term Assignments).

1.     Training Course followed by Project Participation. The 2 or 3 day SIA training course (click here to see outline) is followed by providing help to the EIA-SIA team in implementing SIA on an actual project or policy. Depending upon client needs, the consultation could be as detailed as, for example, assisting in scoping, identification of stakeholders, organizing the SIA, guidance in collecting, analyzing and evaluating data, developing mitigation and preparing the draft report.

2.     Consulting with the SIA-EIA team. Under this option, I work with the team in designing and conducting the social impact assessment as outlined in the previous paragraph without the preliminary workshop. Commitment and compensation would depend upon the size and duration of the project.

3.     “Outside Expert” In some cases I  act as “an outsider” for a review of the social impact assesment plan, to monitor implementation and to comment on the draft report. A project proponent may need assurance that the assessment meets acceptable national and international standards. In other cases, the “outsider” may oversee the assessment team as work progresses.

4.    Actually doing an SIA. Depending upon the size and location of the proposed action, I could actually do the SIA and the associated  public involvement activity. However, I have no staff, and would prefer to work with the proponent or another firm.

5.    Technical reviews of environmental, economic, health and social impact assessment documents.
I provide technical review of a variety of documents to include the "scoping document," the work plan, the draft environmental and social impact statement. My expertise is in logic, content, measurement and the validity of the final analysis.

6.    Public Involvement within the SIA process. Public involvement is done jointly with social and environmental impact assessment. Under this consulting service, I set-up or assist in developing the public involvement plan to fit within the common EIA-SIA steps.

7.    Community Development in both Developed and Developing Country Settings. In these opportunities, my SIA model would be applied to development and policy proposals such as done by the the U. S. Agency for International Development, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and for example community improvement proposals advocated by the Agricultural Extension Service and other similar domestic and international change agencies.

Fees: I charge $US 700 a day for consulting at the venue of the sponsor or on site and $US 70 an hour when working at home. Per diem, travel, materials, time and technical assistance is billed at cost. Travel is charged at $US 600 per day plus expenses. Fees for training courses are outlined under that section. A brief summary of my background may be found under "about Rabel Burdge."  References and additional compensation schedules are available on request--contact me by clicking on the e-mail address below.

Address Details:

Rabel J. Burdge
PO Box 4056
1108 13th Street
Bellingham, WA 98227-4056
USA
e-mail: burdge@comcast.net or burdge@cc.wwu.edu
Phone: +1-360-676-9892
Fax:     +1-360-715-0985
Toll Free: +1-800-377-9358 Pin #40 (US & Canada Only)
Web Address:  www.socialimpactassessment.net

Other Consulting Firms that do social and environmental impact assessment, participative public involvement and a variety of social science activity related to planning for natural resource and the environmental activity are listed below.

1. Taylor-Baines Associates are located in Christchurch, New Zealand. Founded in 1989 as an independent research provider and consulting firm, Taylor Baines and Associates works mainly in the areas of social & natural resource research assessment, policy & management and participatory processes in strategic planning and evaluation. Principles are Nick Taylor and James Baines. Contact them at http://www.tba.co.nz

2. The Praxis Group involves people and organizations in the decisions that effect them. By custom designing decision-making processes; drawing together experienced  project teams; and using innovative tools and techniques for obtaining, recording and analyzing data, Praxis has been able to improve decision making among their clients. Clients include public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Their projects range from one-day workshops to multi-year regional, national and international assignments--each one designed individually to meet unique goals. Major areas  of work include: public involvement, public education and outreach processes; market and survey research; capacity building and training; and communications planning and graphic presentations. They have working arrangements with many consulting firms and individuals throughout Canada and their affiliates (of which I am one) have considerable international experience. Offices are located in Calgary, Alberta and North Vancouver, BC. Richard Roberts is the principal. They may be reached at www.praxis.ca or e-mail: praxinc@praxis.ca

3. Social Assessment, LLC is a multi-disciplinary consultancy firm that focuses on participatory engineering, social accountability, and social safeguard policies. It provides expertise to its various public and private clients across a rage of development initiatives in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is a women owned small business. To review their website go to: www.socialassessment.com

 

This site was updated on 11/10/2008
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Copyright © 2008 by Rabel J. Burdge, all rights reserved
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