In determining vulnerability to each potential impact, sites should use and build on the systemic vulnerability identified in Section 2. Examples are provided in table 3C.2. The ‘Description’ column in the Vulnerability section of the Social Consequence Matrix provides an overview of factors that may determine vulnerability for every Category.
Adverse impacts on vulnerable groups require different and/or additional controls. In terms of both prevention and mitigation of adverse impacts, sites may also need to initiate additional, targeted and long-term measures to address both the causes and consequences of vulnerability.
In the event that some people are vulnerable to the impact and others are not, sites should provide two different consequence levels and two different sets of mitigation measures (i.e. for those vulnerable to the impact, and for those not vulnerable to it).
Table 3C.2 Determining vulnerability to potential impacts
| Vulnerability Capital |
Potential impact related to Vulnerability Capital |
Potential vulnerable sub-groups |
Potential controls for vulnerable sub-groups |
| Economic |
Land degradation as a result of environmental impacts |
Some relatively poor households have high dependency on subsistence farming without access to alternative livelihoods |
Restoration of land, lease of alternative land, support to establish alternative livelihoods |
| Political |
Transition to construction leads to more police in the area |
Minorities or political activists may be vulnerable to an increased public-security presence |
Additional monitoring, regular engagement with groups/individuals, dialogue with NGOs, dialogue with security forces |
| Social |
Increase in ‘social ills’ |
Women and girls vulnerable to harassment and assault |
Support for street lighting, provide night-time transport to/from site |
| Physical |
Community cut off from health services |
Elderly people without the capacity to travel long distances to alternative health services |
Put in place alternative access, or transport provision, or support to mobile clinics |
| Natural |
Increase in dust and traffic fumes |
Children more susceptible to health impacts |
Close monitoring of impacts. Provision of air filtering in schools |