Community resettlement often emerges as a complex challenge that requires careful navigation. Whether it's the expansion of transportation networks, the extraction of natural resources, or the construction of vital utilities like water reservoirs, the need to clear inhabited land may be required. Local regulations and international best practices prioritize the welfare of affected populations to mitigate the adverse socioeconomic impacts that resettlement may entail. Consider these six actions as you approach resettlement:
- Understand the regulatory and institutional requirements: Navigating community resettlement begins with a deep dive into the legal and institutional frameworks governing such actions. Local regulations, like the Expropriations Act in Canada, provide a foundation, while international standards, notably the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standard on Environmental and Social Sustainability (PS5), offer comprehensive guidance. These standards not only serve as a benchmark for best practices but also instill confidence in investors regarding the project's commitment to social sustainability.
- Assess the socioeconomic baseline: Central to any resettlement is the understanding of the socioeconomic baseline of the affected communities. This involves understanding demographic profiles, migration patterns (if applicable), cultural nuances, livelihoods, and access to essential services like healthcare and education. Identifying vulnerable groups and assessing their needs is crucial to develop tailored interventions.
- Investigate displacement impacts: Resettlement disrupts established livelihoods and social networks. Loss of housing, disruption of access to natural resources (i.e., agriculture, forestry), and the dismantling of community infrastructure (i.e., community cohesion, civil infrastructure – healthcare, water treatment, education) can profoundly affect community life. Acknowledging these impacts and developing strategies to mitigate (or limit) and compensate them is an essential requirement of resettlement regulations and guidance.?
- Determine eligibility for resettlement compensation: A determination of eligible and impacted community members will be required – particularly when discussing compensation and mitigation measures. Some considerations include groups that will be subject to the impacts from displacement, valuation criteria as determined by regulatory and international standards, deadlines for assessing losses, and an evaluation of losses that are project-induced. It will be important to pay attention to the possibility of in-migration.
- Develop the implementation plan: A robust implementation plan will be the backbone to your resettlement (and compensation) actions. This will include overall process to execute the plan, direct engagement with those affected, and the team to deliver it, to name a few.?
- Continuous improvement through a monitoring protocol: Careful navigation is synonymous with continuous monitoring. Throughout this process, the project proponent will need to track progress and address emerging challenges proactively. Examples of internal mechanisms include regular reporting, delegated accountability, and transparency within project teams. External oversight examples include independent reviews and audits, and grievance mechanisms.
In times that community resettlement is necessary for project development, a careful and thorough approach must be undertaken – requiring a balance between prospective development and social responsibility.
Note: Tip Tuesday is a collection of my thoughts and a few ‘how to’ insights to share knowledge with fellow practitioners.
