ID: 1611
Presenting Author: Jane Kibbassa
Session: 758 - Reframing Impact Assessment Narratives in Africa: Combating Misinformation, Power Asymmetries, and Distrust in Development
Status: pending
An analysis of challenges in Eastern Africa’s EIA systems, procedural elements, differences and similarities, and examination of leadership issues, coordination, participation, and information access.
The paper reviews the challenges facing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) systems across Eastern Africa – AFE countries. It discusses differences and similarities among the main elements of EIA procedures, such as the nature of the EIA instrument, the institutional leadership and inter-agency coordination, screening and scoping processes, public participation, access to information, and evaluation of alternatives. The review underscores how budgetary constraints and the absence of regular compliance audits erode the credibility of EIA processes. These gaps are compounded by misinformation, limited practitioner capacity, and weak communication channels that fail to engage communities and reduce the legitimacy of environmental decisions. In this context, the paper argues for a reimagining of EIA as a participatory and transparent tool—one that emphasizes using EIA to open government’s decisions to public scrutiny and focus discussion on clearly defined environmental priorities including mercury usage in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM), plastic pollution, and e-waste management. To strengthen EIA systems, the paper proposes integrating digital innovation and community-led monitoring to counter disinformation and enhance public engagement. It also advocates for diversified policy instruments—including disclosure mechanisms—that empower citizens and improve accountability. By embedding these strategies into national EIA frameworks, AFE countries can move toward more trusted, inclusive, and effective environmental governance.
Jane Kibbassa, Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank has 20+ years' experience managing environmental risk in projects and policies with expertise in climate, pollution and sustainability.
Coauthor 1: Ernesto Sanchez-Triana