97
What is the proposed project and who are the proponents?
How much do you know about the project and its proponents? How can you find out more
information?
How would the community prefer to be notified about the proposed project and any impact
assessments that will be conducted?
How would your community and others in the area identify yourselves and your territories, areas, or
resources that are likely to be affected?
What mechanisms are proposed for the impact assessments and other forms of consultations? How
can your community participate in the design and implementation of these mechanisms?
How will the proposed project and assessments respect the community’s rights to selfdetermination, self-governance, and free, prior, and informed consent?
To what degree does the proposed project and assessment undermine or accord with the
community’s protocol and customary laws?
How will the community’s capacities and resilience be strengthened?
What resources and forms of support and capacity building will be available to ensure community
participation in the impact assessment?
How will sensitive information such as traditional and local knowledge and the location of sacred
sites be protected on behalf of the community? Who will have control over this information?
How will the outcomes of the assessment be reviewed and disseminated?
What is the proposed review and appeal process?
If the project goes ahead, what will be the monitoring, contingency, and conflict resolution plans?
Who will be responsible for issues relating to liability, redress, insurance, and compensation?
Box 42: Guiding questions for discussion when faced with an impact assessment for a proposed project
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE:
Communities Demand to be Involved in Impact Assessments for Proposed Massive Port Development
in Lamu, Kenya
Resource: Save Lamu website
The Government of Kenya has recently proposed a
multi-billion dollar port project in the northeastern
district of Lamu. The port forms part of a massive
infrastructure initiative known as the Lamu Port and
Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor, which
seeks to connect Lamu to Duala, Cameroon, through
roads, railways, and pipelines. Lamu is an
environmentally and culturally diverse region
consisting of a range of islands (the Lamu Archipelago)
that stretch across the coast of Kenya’s mainland. The
district boasts two UNESCO Man and Biosphere
Reserves and the town of Lamu has been declared a Figure 18: Save Lamu demonstration demanding
UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical and land reforms and an environmental impact
archeological wealth. There are a number of assessment for the proposed Lamu port
Indigenous peoples whose connection to the area (Courtesy: Samia Omar)
dates back to the seventh century and who depend
directly on the lands and waters of the Archipelago for their livelihoods, customary resource use
practices, and cultural identities and traditions. The port project threatens to immensely impact the
fragile ecosystem and communities alike. However, the communities of Lamu have been provided with
little to no information concerning the proposed port and been excluded from consultations with the
Government.