SEA & ESIA BRIEF
Definitions
• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA),
is applied at the policy, plan or programme
scale – a higher-level process that can be used
in two main ways: (1) to assess the
environmental assets, features, resources and
values of a defined land and/or ocean area to
establish a plan for sustainable and resilient
development, or (2) to examine the potential
environmental impacts of a draft policy, plan
or programme.
• Environmental and Social Assessment
(ESIA), is applied at the project scale (single
development scale) for identifying and
managing: (1) activities or development’s
potential environmental, social and economic
risks, and (2) the potential impacts of the
environment on activities or developments, i.e.
the potential impacts that may arise from
environmental hazards and environmental
change processes, including climate change.
ESIA also incorporates risk assessment, which
involves an evaluation of the consequences,
probability and significance of identified
impacts, to help guide environmental, social
and economic management.
Comparison Between SEA & ESIA

SEA: POLICY, PLAN AND PROGRAMME SCALE ESIA: PROJECT SCALE

Objective To promote sustainable and resilient development by To minimise and mitigate environmental impacts for projects, by setting specific
embedding sound environmental management within environmental performance and management standards
PPP
Scope Identifies environmental impacts related to a broad PPP Identifies environmental impacts for a specific project and location
for development
Perspective Broad, strategic, and general environmental details Narrow and high level of site-specific detail
Type of Process Multi-stage, flexible and iterative Well-defined process, clear beginning and end
Alternatives Considers a broad range of feasible development Considers a limited number of feasible development alternatives, within the
alternatives across a development sector, theme or scope of a project
land/oceanscape
Cumulative Impacts Early warning of cumulative impacts Limited review of cumulative impacts
Monitoring Focuses on the outcomes of PPP implementation Focuses on measuring actual impacts
SEA & ESIA Process
SEA Stage Description ESIA Stage Description

Screening Whether an SEA is necessary Screening Whether an ESIA is necessary in accordance with
legislative framework and international bodies
Scoping Identifying key issues to be addressed & boundaries
Scoping Establish the studies required as part of the ESIA
of the SEA
process and how they will be conducted,
Assessment of Impacts Baseline data collection and assessment of potential Determine any knowledge gaps.
impacts of the PPP and any viable alternative
Baseline Establish an understanding of the existing
environment
Mitigation Consideration of how to avoid or minimise
significant risks and maximise opportunities Impact Assessment Establish an understanding of the potential
impacts arising because of the proposed
Monitoring, Evaluation & Description of the proposed plan for monitoring the development and required mitigation measures.
Compliance outcomes of the implementation of the PPP (Design with no mitigation Design with
Reporting Preparation of the SEA report describing the mitigation Residual impacts Cumulative
findings of the evaluation of the PPP impacts  Environmental & Social impact
assessment reporting.)
Quality Review Review of SEA
Environmental Establish ongoing management and monitoring
Decision-making Deciding how to address the findings of the SEA Management & Monitoring measures required at each stage of development
process and implement the SEMP.
SEA Example: The Sperrgebiet Land Use Plan, Namibia
Background & Objectives
• Biodiverse desert wilderness in southwest Namibia
• Licensed mining area
• Prohibited since 1908. 1994 Exclusive prospecting & mining rights relinquished.
• Government agreed with license holder & NGOs that a land use plan is necessary.
Approach
1. Thorough literature review
2. Development of a series of archaeological and biophysical sensitivity maps
3. Extensive public consultation program: Public/Specialist workshops, information leaflets and feedback forms, and land use
questionnaires
4. Establishment of a list of possible land use options and their evaluation in terms of environmental opportunities and
constraints
5. Formulation of a vision – i.e. the Sperrgebiet as a protected area
6. Development of a zoning plan to provide a framework to guide immediate decisions regarding land use.
7. Technical workshops with specialists to draft zoning plan
8. Preliminary economic analysis of the main land use options. Development of the administrative framework outlining the legal
processes required for land proclamation, the formation of a Management Advisory Committee and definition of its role,
ecotourism models, zoning, future access control and integration into the surrounding political and economic structures. For
each potential land use, guidelines were prepared outlining the requirements for project specific ESIA.
Outcomes
Land Use Plan was finalised in April 2001. In April 2004, the Sperrgebiet was proclaimed a National Park.
SEA Example: The Kenya Education Support Programme
(KESSP)
Background & Objectives
• KESSP is a programme and a consortium of the government, development partners, civil society, communities and the private sector
to support the education sector during 2005-2010.
• The programme fits within the framework of national policy set out in the Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) and developed through
Sector Wide Approach to planning (SWAP).
• Initiative is central to achievement of international development objectives such as the Millennium Development Goals.
• SEA should assess the potential impacts the investment programmes might have on social and environmental issues related to
education; and provide guidance on how to mitigate these potential impacts in the design and implementation of KESSP’s investment
programs.
Approach
1. Provide an environmental and social situational analysis by identifying key issues and stakeholders in the education sector
2. Identify the likely strategic environmental and social impacts of the KESSP and analyse the severity, significance and risk of those
impacts
3. Develop measures to manage and mitigate any negative impacts identified and to enhance any positive impacts.
4. Integrate these measures into an Environmental and Social Management Plan which could be mainstreamed into the programme.
5. Make recommendations for the design of the KESSP, including an optimization opportunities
6. Make recommendations for any further studies needed
Outcomes
•Influenced the design of the KESSP at an early stage
•Strengthened the environmental and social sustainability implementation
•Made institutional recommendations to enhance implementation
•Improved donor coordination by maximising the use of resources, avoiding duplication effort and integrating different donor aims and
priorities.
ESIA Example: Antea Project
Background & Objectives
• Largest industrial greenfield investments in Albania
• Joint funding by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD)
• Planned to construct a new cement production facility and the development of two associated quarries to produce and
supply the main raw materials for the operation.
Approach
1. During the screening phase, project was classified as a “Category A” according to IFC’s Environmental and Social
Review Procedure and EBRD’s Environmental and Social Policy, mainly due to the significant land acquisition
requirement and the adverse and irreversible potential impact on the land.
2. Besides national legislative requirements, the project was required to go through the development of a full ESIA,
including an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), and a Social Compensation Plan Framework (SCPF).
3. Difficult socio-economic aspect, nevertheless, ESIA identified categories of local household affected due to economic
displacement because of the acquisition of farmlands previously used for food production.
4. A Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan (PCDP) was developed throughout the duration of the project.
5. Consultation and engagement with affected stakeholders was an ongoing aspect throughout the ESIA process. This
direct and effective communication strategy was critical to ensure their participation for feedback and raising issues or
concerns.
Outcomes
• The ESIA included a survey of the societal concerns of the local inhabitants resulting in a five-year Social Compensation
Plan.
• To ensure energy efficiency and environmental effectiveness, the plant has been constructed with the best available
technologies. As an example, the plant uses closed storage for over 100.000 tons of raw materials, and all transportation
of materials within the plant is via covered conveyors to decrease fugitive dust. The latest technology with vertical
grinding mills which take less space is being used, ensuring a better environmental performance and higher efficiency in
electricity consumption. ANTEA uses bag filters which although have higher operational cost guarantees a better
environmental performance.
ESIA & SEA Legislation By Country

ESIA Legislation in 2024 SEA Legislation in 2024

World Bank Guidelines
Performance Standards
• Performance Standard 1: Assessment and Management of
Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
• Performance Standard 2: Labor and Working Conditions
• Performance Standard 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution
Prevention
• Performance Standard 4: Community Health, Safety, and
Security
• Performance Standard 5: Land Acquisition and Involuntary
Resettlement
• Performance Standard 6: Biodiversity Conservation and
Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources
• Performance Standard 7: Indigenous Peoples
• Performance Standard 8: Cultural Heritage
Borrower Requirements – Environmental &
Social Standards 1-10
• Environmental and Social Standard 1: Assessment and Management of
Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts
• Environmental and Social Standard 2: Labor and Working Conditions
• Environmental and Social Standard 3: Resource Efficiency and Pollution
Prevention andManagement
• Environmental and Social Standard 4: Community Health and Safety
• Environmental and Social Standard 5: Land Acquisition, Restrictions on
Land Use and Involuntary Resettlement
• Environmental and Social Standard 6: Biodiversity Conservation and
Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources
• Environmental and Social Standard 7: Indigenous Peoples/Sub-Saharan
African Historically Underserved Traditional Local Communities
• Environmental and Social Standard 8: Cultural Heritage
• Environmental and Social Standard 9: Financial Intermediaries
• Environmental and Social Standard 10: Stakeholder Engagement and
Information Disclosure.
Social Impact Assessment Elements
• Legal and Normative Foundation.
• Social Context.
• Stakeholder Engagement.
• Benefits and Opportunities.
• Risk Identification.
• Indicators, Baseline, and Methodology.
• Design and Implementation.
• Reports and plans.
• Project Management System.
• Monitoring, Adaptive Management, and Evaluation
SOCIOECONOMICS