An online training course on “Environmental and Social Impact Assessment” has been successfully organized by the Learning Center on Environmental and Social Sustainability (LC), during 8 -14 September 2021. This is one of key training themes of the Learning Center which is established under the Memorandum of Understanding between Asian Institute of Technology in Vietnam (AIT Vietnam) and some of its International Development Partners including the Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The overall objective of the training course is to build up competencies for PMUs of development projects, environmental practitioners and consultants in conducting an environmental and social impact assessment. The course not only introduces the World Bank’s new Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS2009) but also gives a comparative snapshot between the international donor’s safeguards policies and guidelines with the ones of the Government. In particularly, the program provide participants with the knowledge, tools and techniques to prepare, implement and monitor an environmental and social impact assessment, meeting requirements of both international donors’ and Vietnam’s environmental and social safeguard requirements.
The program attracted a number of participants who are from environmental, construction and law consulting firms, public and private enterprises and some universities in different regions in Vietnam. Some students have already had knowledge and some experience in the ESIA while for others ESIA is still a new concept. However, the combination of interactive learning and learner-oriented training approaches had encouraged an active participation of all learners in every learning activity and enabled them to learn a lot from the trainers and also from each other. Group assignments and reflection of discussion results, analysis of case/case studies and good practices, guest speakers’ experience sharing sessions, role play games and debate sessions are main learning activities.
During the six-half day-training, participants had chance to update knowledge on Environmental and Social Impact Assessment which covered: (i) WB’s project cycle and why conduct ESIA. (ii) Vietnam and Donor/ International policies and requirement for ESIA (iii) screening and scoping (iv) impact analysis (v) evaluating impact significance (vi) cumulative impact assessment (vii) mitigation and impact management (viii) public involvement, consultation and disclosure in ESIA (ix) role of PMU and relationship with stakeholders (x) quality control tools for ESIA.
The course was facilitated by a professional and enthusiastic training team who has both theoretical and practical knowledge and experience in conducting many ESIAs and delivering similar programs for learning centers and universities. Participants highly evaluated the course, especially its usefulness and practical application in participant’s real work. Most of the participants expressed that the knowledge and skills they have learnt from this training course could can be used in their work right after the training course such as development of an Environmental and Social Management Plan, Monitoring an ESIA and controlling quality of an ESIA, writing a TOR for an ESIA, identifying and analyzing impacts as well as assessing and selecting the most appropriate mitigation measures, etc. The overall course evaluation score was 8.1 (over the scale of 10), representing the participants’ highly satisfaction.
In respond to the needs of the environmental practitioners in the region the LC is going to offer the next courses in October and November, 2021: i) Involuntary Resettlement; and ii) Effective Environmental Management during Construction; iii) Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA in English) and iv) Health Impact Assessment (HIA).
For further information, please contact Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Thuy:
Cellphone: +84 983437728; or Email: pthuy@aitcv.ac.vn Thank you
Images of class
Training content
Training team (AIT Vietnam)
