Session Description
Global economic volatility, critical-minerals demand, supply-chain disruption, compressed delivery programs, and geopolitical pressure are reshaping the conditions under which social performance and impact assessment are commissioned and practised. Industry clients of IA consultancies pose the imperative and challenge of delivering a ‘minimum viable product’. In mining, resources, infrastructure and energy, this creates a practical and ethical dilemma: when time, budget, institutional capacity and political tolerance are constrained, what is the minimum viable social performance and impact assessment product that both meets practical requirements, and protects rights, culture, heritage, community well-being, technical defensibility and ethics? How would such an approach measure up against IAIA principles?
The panel will ask: what must never be cut, what can be proportionate, and what must be revived from earlier IA practice? It will connect community engagement and consultation, SIA, Indigenous/First Nations engagement and cultural heritage as mutually dependent disciplines. Drawing on IAIA, IFC, ICMM, CBD Akwé: Kon and current practice, speakers will explore a draft ‘minimum viable social performance/impact assessment’ model spanning imperatives and thresholds for when ‘minimum’ is not acceptable. The intended output is a reconciled model that practitioners can adapt to ‘pressured’ projects that distinguishes credible proportionality from unacceptable shortcuts.
Session Summary
This panel discussion draws on case studies, expertise, and ‘live’ audience input to test a model for credible, rights-respecting, evidence-based and implementable practice under constrained economic and geopolitical conditions.
Additional Information
Expected outcomes
1 A shared definition/understanding/model of 'minimum viable' social performance/impact assessment that distinguishes credible proportionality from unacceptable shortcuts.
2 A draft non-negotiables checklist covering rights, engagement, Indigenous governance, cultural heritage, baseline/cumulative context, management measures, grievance, monitoring and adaptive triggers.
3 A ‘red flag’ list for when minimum is not enough
Session Chair
Alison Carter
WSP Australia Limited
Australia