Do you work on MCC / MiDA safeguards specifically?

Yes. We have extensive experience with MCC social-safeguard requirements, having led resettlement and community-engagement assignments on three separate MiDA / MCC electricity-transmission projects in Greater Accra (2019). We are familiar with MCC's Gender Policy, Social and Gender Assessment requirements, and due-diligence standards.

At what stage of a project should safeguards work begin?

As early as possible — ideally during project design, before the footprint is finalised. Early safeguards work allows project engineers to avoid or minimise displacement through design changes, and gives affected communities adequate time to participate meaningfully. Starting safeguards work after construction has begun is a compliance risk and typically increases total project cost.

How do you handle market traders and informal vendors in resettlement contexts?

Market vendors and informal traders are among the groups most affected by infrastructure works in urban areas and the most often inadequately compensated. We conduct detailed livelihood assessments and income-loss calculations that capture informal earnings, enumerate all affected vendors by location, and design compensation and livelihood-restoration measures that address both direct physical and economic displacement.

Can you conduct a Gender and Social Inclusion assessment?

Yes. Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) assessments are frequently integrated into our baseline and safeguards work. We disaggregate all socio-economic data by gender, identify gender-differentiated impacts and risks, and recommend project-design measures to promote equitable outcomes and reduce the burden on women and girls.

Environmental & Social Safeguards and Resettlement

01

Infrastructure and energy projects displace people, affect livelihoods, and alter community life. Devtplan Consult provides the safeguards expertise that helps development-finance institutions and their implementing partners meet their obligations to affected communities — and avoid the delays and reputational harm that inadequate safeguards produce. We have led resettlement and community-engagement assignments for MiDA / the Millennium Challenge Corporation across Greater Accra, covering market vendors, small-business owners, and households affected by power infrastructure.

02

What it involves

What is a Resettlement Action Plan?

A Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) is a document that describes the physical and economic displacement caused by a project — who is affected, what assets and livelihoods are lost, how affected people will be compensated, and how their situation will be restored or improved. RAPs must meet IFC Performance Standards, World Bank Operational Policy 4.12, or MCC social-safeguards requirements depending on the funder. Devtplan has prepared and implemented RAPs for MCC-funded transmission-line and substation projects in Greater Accra.

What does an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment involve?

An ESIA identifies the likely environmental and social impacts of a proposed project, assesses their significance, and prescribes mitigation measures. The process combines desktop review, site visits, stakeholder consultations with affected communities, and specialist technical studies (air, noise, water, ecology, socio-economic). We provide ESIA support at all stages: scoping, impact assessment, mitigation planning, public disclosure, and monitoring-plan design.

How does community engagement prevent harm?

Genuine, early, and sustained community engagement gives affected people a voice in how projects are designed, what mitigation measures are adopted, and how grievances are resolved. Where communities are informed and consulted, they are more likely to accept the project and less likely to organise resistance that causes delays. Devtplan runs community sensitisation campaigns, grievance mechanisms, and participatory assessments that meet free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) principles.

What is a socio-economic baseline for safeguards purposes?

A socio-economic baseline for an infrastructure project establishes the pre-project status of potentially affected people — their incomes, livelihoods, asset ownership, vulnerability, and community ties. It is the reference against which displacement impacts are assessed and compensation entitlements are calculated. Devtplan conducts socio-economic baselines as a standalone assignment or as part of a full RAP preparation process.

03

Methods & approaches

Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) preparation and implementation support
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) support
Socio-economic baseline surveys for affected communities
Community sensitisation and stakeholder engagement
Grievance mechanism design and management
Vulnerable-group assessment (women, elderly, disabled)
Livelihood restoration planning and monitoring
Compliance monitoring against IFC Performance Standards / MCC requirements

Who this service is for

Development-finance institutions, project owners, and implementing agencies for infrastructure, energy, road, and natural-resource projects in Ghana and West Africa requiring IFC, World Bank, MCC, or AfDB safeguards compliance.

Related work

01 / 2020

Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development

Review of DPAT Indicators — Volta and Oti Regions

Local Governance — Volta, Oti

02 / 2019

MiDA / MCC

Resettlement & Community Engagement — HVDS Installation, Makola, Dansoman, Nii-Boiman & Kaneshie

Energy & Infrastructure Resettlement — Greater Accra

03 / 2019

MiDA / MCC

Resettlement & Community Engagement — LV Bifurcation & Network Improvement, Kwabenya & Legon

Energy & Infrastructure Resettlement — Greater Accra

View all assignments →

Frequently asked questions

Do you work on MCC / MiDA safeguards specifically?: Yes. We have extensive experience with MCC social-safeguard requirements, having led resettlement and community-engagement assignments on three separate MiDA / MCC electricity-transmission projects in Greater Accra (2019). We are familiar with MCC's Gender Policy, Social and Gender Assessment requirements, and due-diligence standards.
At what stage of a project should safeguards work begin?: As early as possible — ideally during project design, before the footprint is finalised. Early safeguards work allows project engineers to avoid or minimise displacement through design changes, and gives affected communities adequate time to participate meaningfully. Starting safeguards work after construction has begun is a compliance risk and typically increases total project cost.
How do you handle market traders and informal vendors in resettlement contexts?: Market vendors and informal traders are among the groups most affected by infrastructure works in urban areas and the most often inadequately compensated. We conduct detailed livelihood assessments and income-loss calculations that capture informal earnings, enumerate all affected vendors by location, and design compensation and livelihood-restoration measures that address both direct physical and economic displacement.
Can you conduct a Gender and Social Inclusion assessment?: Yes. Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) assessments are frequently integrated into our baseline and safeguards work. We disaggregate all socio-economic data by gender, identify gender-differentiated impacts and risks, and recommend project-design measures to promote equitable outcomes and reduce the burden on women and girls.

Environmental & Social Safeguards and Resettlement in Ghana