Water resource management and integrated river basin management appear to be, on the surface at least, primarily technical or engineering tasks. They in fact have a wide range of inter-related social impacts, from limiting access to firewood in catchment areas to rural-urban migration and its impact on the spread of HIV/AIDS - both of which are seen nowadays as contributors to poverty.
The ACEDP Social Impact Framework addresses the issue of impacts of policy / program outcomes on the community and especially on vulnerable groups amongst those affected. Failure to address potentially negative impacts at an early stage may result in unforeseen implication for the realization of broader policies of either government.
The program is considering a three-pronged approach to address and manage any negative social impact:
· Public participation in policy formulation
· Anticipating social impacts of new policy directions
· Mainstreaming gender issues
The ACEDP Social Impact and Gender Mainstreaming Framework Activity Design Document (ADD) for a supportive package of interventions has been approved by AusAID and the Chinese Core Partner Agencies and will go to Public Tender in late 2008. The package aims to strengthen the capacity of Chinese agencies to (i) assess the social impact of environmental policy changes, (ii) mainstream gender equity considerations, (iii) facilitate a process of public participation in policy/program formulation and implementation, and (iv) strengthen the capacities of a Chinese agency to implement that package.