Borealis Social Baseline Solution

Asset Inventory

The Borealis Social Baseline Solution allows companies to create an inventory of the assets directly and indirectly impacted by the project. This is very useful for assessing the location of natural resources, fixed assets, and infrastructure because it provides factual support and assures that the project can be protected from fraudulent claims.

This information, in combination with socioeconomic survey data, can be used as the foundation for the definition of the cutoff date in case of resettlement and is concrete evidence to verify cases of land speculation.

Socioeconomic Information

Socioeconomic data records and itemized core information on the affected population help to establish a list of legitimate beneficiaries of the project and enable project proponents to: (i) define income restoration activities, (ii) develop interventions, and (iii) provide a basis for monitoring and evaluation.

Accurate baseline data with reliable information enables proponents to monitor changes in living standards and the quality of life of people impacted by the project. It helps them identify problems and make corrections both in daily operations and policy.

If there is a resettlement, the socioeconomic baseline provides planners with quantitative data that allows them to calculate the resources, budget and services necessary for the resettlement. The socioeconomic baseline is the basis for monitoring the delivery of those resources and services to the affected population and permits companies to correct problems in the delivery of resources and services through the Borealis Monitoring and Audit Module.

Heritage Sites

This Borealis application allows companies to locate heritage sites in a Geographic Information System, link photographs and descriptions to the site and monitor whether sites have been preserved or not over time

The cultural heritage site baseline is designed to:

• Identify and locate sites
• Document the location and status of sites
• Facilitate consultation with affected communities about the location and importance of sites, i.e. whether the site can be accessed and by whom.
• Avoid direct and indirect damage
• Protect cultural heritage from the negative impacts of the project and to support conservation

Vulnerable Peoples

This Borealis solution helps identify vulnerable cases, person by person and use this data to designing the protection framework for vulnerable cases. It also helps monitor whether the measures taken have been effective or not over time.

The Vulnerable Peoples baseline solution, once implemented, can show whether or not vulnerable cases were considered at the beginning of the project and assess initial assumptions.

Indigenous Peoples

This Borealis solution enables companies to clearly identify and understand the interests and perspectives of indigenous peoples with respect to the project and its potential impacts. It identifies the problems and sensitive issues of indigenous peoples, with the purpose of (i) respecting and preserving their culture, knowledge and practices (ii) avoiding adverse effects on the communities of indigenous peoples due to project development and (iii) identifying opportunities for development in a culturally appropriate manner.

The identification of these key issues helps to promote informed participation of indigenous peoples and support negotiations based on good faith.

Data from this Borealis solution supports the design of Indigenous Peoples Plans and/or Process Plans for Indigenous Peoples.