international association for impact assessment

Our Vision

IAIA is the leading global network on best practice in the use of impact assessment for informed decision making regarding policies, programs, plans and projects.

Our Mission

To provide the international forum for advancing innovation and communication of best practice in all forms of impact assessment so as to further the development of local, regional, and global capacity in impact assessment.

Our Values

IAIA promotes the application of integrated and participatory approaches to impact assessment, conducted to the highest professional standards.

IAIA believes the assessment of the environmental, social, economic, cultural, and health implications for proposals to be a critical contribution to sound decision-making processes, and to equitable and sustainable development.

IAIA is committed to the promotion of sustainability, the freedom of access to information, and the right of citizens to have a voice in decisions that affect them. When we assess the impact of policies, plans, programs, or projects, we promote the free flow of complete, unbiased and accurate information to decision makers and affected parties. We believe that impact assessments should be inclusive and comprehensive, addressing the broader social and health impacts as well as any impacts on the biophysical environment. Respect for human rights and human dignity should underpin all assessments. We acknowledge that we have a duty of care to both present and future generations.

Our Ethical Responsibilities

Professional Responsibilities

IAIA as an organization promotes the following:

• We compile or review impact assessments with integrity and honesty, and free from misrepresentation or deliberate bias.
• Our personal beliefs should not interfere with fair representation of the potential impacts of policies, plans, programs, and projects.
• We uphold the principle of freedom of access to information and the right of citizens to participate in decisions.
• We subscribe to a holistic approach to impact assessment.
• We seek sustainable and equitable outcomes from human actions that affect ecosystem and social functions.
• We will seek to encourage a process of impact assessment that averts infringement of the human rights of any section of society.
• We do not condone the use of violence, harassment, intimidation or undue force in connection with any aspect of impact assessment or implementation of an intervention arising from impact assessment.
• We conduct impact assessments in the awareness that different groups in society experience benefits and harm in different ways. We seek to take gender and other social differences into account, and we are especially mindful of the concerns of indigenous peoples.
• We strive to promote considerations of equity as a fundamental element of impact assessment.
• We give due regard to the rights and interests of future generations.
• We strive for excellence by maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of co-workers, and by fostering the aspirations of potential members of the profession.
• We do not advance our private interests to the detriment of the public, our clients or employing institutions.

Our Ethical Responsibilities

Business Operations

To give effect to the IAIA value of promoting sustainability in the Association’s business practices, the Association has adopted the following internal policy to guide its activities.

The objective of IAIA management is to adopt business practices that make a positive difference to environmental sustainability. As a business operation, IAIA is committed to adapting our activities, products and services with consideration for a sustainable environment by:

• Managing and monitoring the effects of our activities on the environment, especially with regard to minimizing the impacts from travel and resource use related to IAIA conferences and meetings.
• Maximizing the positive impact IAIA’s resources and networks can have on members and others in promoting best practice in environmental assessment.
• To the extent possible, purchasing environmentally friendly products and services from vendors who have a commitment to caring for the environment.
• Supporting the training of staff to ensure they have sufficient knowledge of good environmental business practices to do the jobs they do for IAIA with a care and concern for the environment.
• Establishing investment policies that reflect our commitment to the environment.
• Recycling/reusing paper and disposable goods and evaluating alternatives to the use of such products.
• Purchasing office equipment, furnishings and fixtures that conserve natural resources and minimize environmental pollutants to the extent possible in a conventionally leased space.
• Controlling the office environment with natural light and ventilation to the extent possible.
• Establishing staff work schedules that minimize travel without compromising service to membership or staff communication.
• Moving towards paperless billing and service provision.
• Reviewing our practices regularly to find additional means of doing business in the most environmentally conscientious way possible.

Our Professional Code of Conduct

IAIA encourages its members to make a personal pledge of commitment to a Professional Code of Conduct. To facilitate this, IAIA has established a category of “Professional Member,” which is achieved by submitting the following signed statement.

As a self-ascribed professional member of IAIA, the information and services that I provide must be of the highest quality and reliability. I consequently commit myself:

• To conduct my professional activities with integrity, honesty, and free from any misrepresentation or deliberate bias.
• To conduct my professional activities only in subject areas in which I have competence through education, training, or experience. I will engage, or participate with, other professionals in subject areas where I am less competent.
• To take care that my professional activities promote sustainable and equitable actions as well as a holistic approach to impact assessment.
• To check that all policies, plans, activities, or projects with which I am involved are consistent with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and guidelines.
• To refuse to provide professional services whenever the professional is required to bias the analysis or omit or distort facts in order to arrive at a predetermined finding or result.
• To disclose to employers and clients and in all written reports, any personal or financial interest that could reasonably raise concerns as to a possible conflict of interest.
• To strive to continually improve my professional knowledge and skills and to stay current with new developments in impact assessment and my associated fields of competence.
• To acknowledge the sources I have used in my analysis and the preparation of reports.
• To accept that my name will be removed from the list of self-ascribed professional members of IAIA should I be found to be in breach of this code by a disciplinary task-group constituted by the IAIA Board of Directors