ID: 1681
Presenting Author: Adolphus Naswem
Session: 715 - Professional Capacity Building and Certification As Tools for Building Stakeholder Confidence
Status: pending
This paper presents SPESSE as a scalable model for Africa, enhancing ESIA integrity through professional certification, capacity building and transparent communication.
This paper examines how professional recognition and certification systems can strengthen the integrity of communication in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). The SPESSE project,implemented by the Institute of Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards in North-Central Nigeria, is a capacity-building initiative aligned with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). It offers multi-level training tracks, including short courses, advanced certificates, postgraduate diplomas, and degree programs. SPESSE targets professionals across private and public sectors (architects, engineers, land administrators, gender experts, disaster managers, estate surveyors, and social development practitioners). The program integrates academic and industry expertise, employs hybrid delivery models, ensures full project disclosure, and uses an independent verification agency to monitor compliance and uphold quality. These mechanisms promote transparent, evidence-based communication and equip participants with skills in inclusive engagement, grievance resolution, and misinformation management within ESIAs. By introducing certifications in environmental and social standards, SPESSE professionalizes the field in Nigeria, setting benchmarks for ethical conduct and accountability. Ultimately, SPESSE is cultivating a skilled workforce capable of conducting complex impact assessments and fostering sustainable development and community engagement. Its framework presents a scalable model for other African nations facing challenges in impact assessment capacity.
Professor Adolphus A. Naswem is a distinguished Nigerian academic whose expertise spans agricultural extension, rural sociology, and impact assessment.
Coauthor 1: Rufus Sha'Ato