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Health, wellbeing, and HIA:

Working better, working smarter

University of Otago | Dunedin, New Zealand 17th-19th November 2010

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If you have specific questions, please contact conference organisers: hia2010@otago.ac.nz

Context

HIA has developed rapidly since the mid 1990s, as witnessed by the dramatic growth in literature on the process and its methods, and the increasing number of resources related to HIA now available on the Internet. In some countries, a great deal of effort has been invested in the development of HIA processes—whether in a stand alone form or within a widerCourtyard impact assessment context—and practitioners, administrators, and stakeholders are beginning to build up a significant body of experience and learning about such processes. On the other hand, some countries are still at the early stages of introducing forms of HIA and others are yet to adopt HIA in any form. It is very timely, then, to find ways to share experiences, explore opportunities, and support the introduction and development of HIA in new jurisdictions, and new situations. Of course, given the current economic situation, there is considerable pressure on governments to reduce public expenditure, and to speed economic development. Such times of crisis present a great opportunity to promote approaches such as HIA that deliver informed decisions, encourage positive outcomes and seek to minimise the risk for decision makers.

Consequently, the emerging HIA community of the Asia and Pacific region has two key opportunities: the first is to demonstrate the value and cost-effectiveness of HIA, based on the shared experiences across the region, and thereby provide a strong business case for HIA to politicians and senior bureaucrats. The second is to continue to improve practice in light of experience.

The overarching aim of the 3rd Asia and Pacific Regional Health Impact Assessment Conference (HIA2010) is to focus on ways of making HIA more effective and fit for purpose. To that end, the conference will provide an important opportunity for HIA practitioners to discuss their practices and experiences with each other, with practitioners from other areas of impact assessment, and with policy makers and planners from many sectors, in central and local government, as well as the private sector. As a basis for meaningful dialogue, the conference seeks to showcase innovative work on methodologies and techniques, as well as highlighting the latest thinking on effective ways to the institutionalise assessment procedures, construct regulatory frameworks, and manage the HIA process.