Environmental Assessment
Volume A-6
Introduction
Consultation
informal community leaders in facilitating consultations and communication has
been critical, as has been working with local politicians and representatives of
NGOs, traditional leaders and others who influence community opinions and
activities. Most important, consultations have been conducted in the spirit, not
merely the letter, of the law. To successfully adapt to and resolve public concerns
the project recognizes that it is important to keep the process ongoing and
flexible, according to the needs and interest level of stakeholders.
6.3
STAKEHOLDERS
In addition to the obligation to consult as widely as possible with project
stakeholders and in the interests of including their input as appropriate into
project design and into the EA, the proponent is concerned to ensure that, to the
extent practical:
•
consultation completed that is relevant to assessing environmental and
social impacts is included in the EA;
•
the project is integrated into national, regional and local development
planning; and
•
partnerships with agencies of government and civil society can be
developed in the interests of effective environmental and social
mitigation and to optimize the positive effects of the project.
To these ends, efforts were made to identify stakeholders as inclusively and
broadly as feasible. A preliminary list of stakeholders was developed for
launching a formal consultation program in early 2004 to scope the issues that
should be addressed in the EA. Efforts were made to identify interested groups
at national, regional and local levels. In addition to government at all levels and
communities potentially affected by the project, emphasis was placed on NGOs
and advocacy groups that have interests in the areas of Moramanga and
Toamasina, where the large majority of project effects will be experienced, as
well as on donor agencies, whose existing or planned project investments may be
affected or affect the project. As consultations proceeded, and as more
information became publicly available about the project, this preliminary list of
stakeholders was expanded. Stakeholder groups, their expected interest in the
project, and their potential roles in project development, are summarized below.
Ambatovy Project
25
January 2006
