Social services

Social Baseline Studies

The social baseline is a collection and review of socio-demographic, socio-economic, socio-cultural, land use and institutional information in order to develop an appropriate understanding of the existing social context.

This information enables for the identification and assessment of the contribution of the project to current changes in the social context, predict the ways in which the project could contribute to future changes, and assess the current and potential impacts of these changes on the social context. A solid social baseline also contributes to a more accurate and applicable monitoring and evaluation process.

Stakeholder Engagement and Public Participation

Engagement with stakeholders to understand their issues and jointly identify solutions is increasingly important for the successful development of projects. It demonstrates responsible citizenship, reduces project risks. Earthguard can help in planning and implementation of stakeholder consultations during project development and throughout the life of a project to prevent future unrest.

Stakeholder Engagement Services

• Consultation planning, which could range from development of a policy framework to a detailed action plan for impact assessment or operational purposes;
• identifying and consulting with interested and affected parties, including communities, government, NGOs and other stakeholders;
• developing and maintaining a database of stakeholders and their issues;

• designing bespoke disclosure documents for stakeholders;
• preparing grievance procedures; and
• training of project staff in international trends and requirements for successful stakeholder engagement.

Stakeholder mapping

Stakeholder mapping allows for a process of identifying stakeholders from within the community and assisting the company to make informed decisions regarding the best possible way of engaging with them. This includes a historical timeline, a stakeholder database and a stakeholder map showing the power relations between stakeholders as well as their influence, expectations and vulnerability status.

Perception Surveys

Perception surveys are most often used when trying to find out how people understand or feel about their situations or environments. They are used to assess needs, answer questions, solve problems, establish baselines, analyze trends, and select goals. We conduct perception surveys to establish a baseline understanding of what people affected or impacted by developments feel in order to develop measures to improve relationships.