Stages of the model
Stage One: How to scope the EIA
Stage Two: How to assess impact with the EIA
Stage Three: Embedding
Stage Four: Ongoing monitoring and evaluation
Back to the model overview
Timing: at the start of the strategy development and review process, following the scoping stage.
Key considerations include the following:
The intended outcome from a strategic and high-level assessment
Strategic and high-level considerations within the EIA assessment will not necessarily identify specific actions in the same way as expected for EIA of operational policy and practice. The outcome of the process should however result in clear institutional direction and expectations for equality work and related activities, supporting a co-ordinated and embedded approach across the institution.
Use of data and evidence
- Identifying, understanding and referencing relevant data and evidence is key to informing direction; this should assist with understanding both your current situation and how outcomes and impacts in equality are created and change in practice.
- Ongoing monitoring and review and evaluation of equality aims are also essential to inform an understanding of whether intended direction works in practice; monitoring and evaluation data should therefore be used as part of EIA assessment to help judge the effectiveness of measures and activities and to feedback into other institutional processes, mechanisms and strategy review where necessary.
Identification of equality impacts and opportunities and consideration of alternatives, change or mitigation
The EIA assessment process, within a clear institutional equality framework, together with the examination of relevant data and evidence, should enable institutions to identify:
- Outcomes, trends and successes across identified equality priorities;
- Reflection of areas for further consideration, where measures or initiatives have not worked or achieved expected results;
- Gaps or questions that need to be explored, revealing possible opportunities for further advancing equality.
Identifying negative impacts or unintended consequences
Examples linked to possible negative impacts.
See further information on negative impacts and unintended consequences in FAQ section.
An illustrative example of unintended consequences can be found here.
Consideration of alternatives, change or mitigation
The purpose of EIA is to identify equality impacts and opportunities and use this process to consider and effect change where necessary, as well as supporting broader institutional aims and legal requirements. In a strategic context, alternatives, change or mitigation may be focused on equality direction and intentions rather than specific or practical activity or actions.
Link to case study example on implementing the strategic EIA model.
Follow up action from the assessment
It is important after an assessment has been carried out, to be clear about:
- Any judgements or decisions, the rationale, and how this information will be recorded and communicated to others required to implement decisions and take any actions forward.
- In the case of strategic decisions, it is also important to think about mechanisms for communicating and cascading decisions and information where there may be less obvious or direct links to specific functions and work areas but where the decisions and any actions identified might have an important impact for operational and business activity or policy. E.g. decisions about the direction for disability equality may be important for estates teams, decisions about religion and belief may be important for HR, catering teams etc.
- Ownership and responsibility for decisions and actions; it is vital to clearly identify who is ultimately accountable and has sufficient authority for ensuring decisions or identified change measures are implemented.