Human Rights Impact Assessment of harvesting operations at Green Resources’ Uchindile Forest: The health impact assessment framework repurposed

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Although human rights have historically been under the scope of governments, it is now widely recognized that multinational corporations impact human rights through their operations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The United Nations (UN) has issued widely adopted guidance to corporations recommending that they predict, lessen and monitor human rights impacts. However, to date no commonly agreed upon methodologies for such investigations have been established.
This study aimed to test a methodology for human rights impact assessment and monitoring on a forestry project in southern Tanzania. This methodology was developed not from the environmental or social impact assessment frameworks, but from the health impact assessment framework. Health impact assessment (HIA) provides a valuable balance of transdisciplinary perspective (the study of a relevant issue or problem that integrates the views of multiple disciplines in order to connect new knowledge and deeper understanding to real life experiences) and awareness of human rights measures of sufficiency (i.e. accessibility, affordability, appropriateness and adequacy of care), which can be expanded to the full suite of human rights.
Findings from this study provide new evidence on the effectiveness of human rights impact assessments for predicting and mitigating (reduce) human rights impacts of corporate developments while also examining the relationship between health and human rights as bi-directional.

Who can participate?
All project area inhabitants who are potentially affected – either positively or negatively – by the project can participate. Key informants include project managers (in environmental, human resources and operations departments), educators, health practitioners and local leaders and authorities. Community members (referred to as “rightsholders”) engaged in discussions of human rights-related topics include employees, former employees, first and second wives, the elderly, the young (including school-aged children), single-mothers, union members and non-unionized workers, and the ill.

What does the study involve?
Study participation is voluntary in semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions pertaining to daily life and perceptions. Consent is acquired orally, owing to low literacy rates (<50%). Interview questions focus on topics of labour, local politics, economics, health, education, empowerment (make someone stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights), discrimination and culture. Focus groups aim to identify topics of shared concern related to livelihood and empowerment.
Responses will be coded for relevance to human rights listed in the International Bill of Rights (UN, 1948, 1967a, 1976b).

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants will provide qualitative data to supplement quantitative data acquired from clinicians, educators and local leaders on human rights conditions. Identified negative human rights impacts will be analysed to develop plans, which will be monitored.
Often human rights-related topics are sensitive and personal. Interviewers are trained in the cultural-epidemiological method (known as EMIC) interviewing to accommodate the emotional challenges associated with certain health, social and stigma-related questions (pertaining to, for example, HIV status, relationships between first- and second wives, and mistreatment at the workplace). Because sensitive topics are discussed anonymity is respected for all interviewees.

Where is the study run from?
The study is conducted in Uchindile and Kitete villages in rural Iringa District, Tanzania. Interviews are conducted at the clinic, school and streamside, as well as in residences and public spaces such as restaurants.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in December 2008 and ran until December 2010. A final monitoring visit is scheduled for mid-2013.

Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by NomoGaia, a US-based think tank dedicated to clarifying the role of business in human rights worldwide.

Who is the main contact?
Ms. Kendyl Salcito
kendyl.salcito@unibas.ch

Study website

Contact information

Study information

Eligibility

Locations

Countries of recruitment

• Switzerland
• Tanzania

Study participating centre

Sponsor information

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Switzerland)
Research organisation

57 Socinstrasse
Basel
4051
Switzerland

Phone	+41 61 284 81 29
Email	juerg.utzinger@unibas.ch
Website	http://www.swisstph.ch
"ROR"	https://ror.org/03adhka07

Funders

Funder type

Research organisation

Results and Publications