121-529 Social Impact Assessment and Evaluation

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in environmental studies, geography, development studies or by permission of the coordinator.

This subject develops the skills to understand and assess the social impacts of development. The different actors involved in shaping and implementing development projects and programmes (the state, international development agencies, non-government organisations and grass roots institutions) are appraised. Using practical examples from the non-Western and Western world, we develop techniques to monitor and evaluate impacts using interdisciplinary techniques drawn from anthropology, development studies, and the policy sciences that move beyond summative assessment and financial accounting. We consider the social and environmental contexts in which development is embedded, and the capacities of different actors and organizations to avert or mitigate negative impacts through learning, negotiation, and citizen participation. At the completion of the subject students will have developed the conceptual skills to understand the relationship between society and development; be familiar with the range of methodologies and techniques used in impact assessment studies and project evaluation; and be able to critically evaluate the impact of development projects and programmes.

• be able to understand international development projects and their role in social change;

• be able to understand critical theories of social impact assessment;

• be able to critique Social Impact Statements effectively;

• be able to apply knowledge gained in the subject to new situations.

Fourth year students: An essay of 3000 words 70% (due after the end of semester), a project report 2000 words 30% (due mid semester). Masters students: An essay of 4000 words 70% (due after the end of semester), a project report of 2000 words 30% (due mid semester).