Press Release: New local council fund should be evidence-based

The Malta Sociological Association notes the introduction of funding for local councils to make their streets less car-centric and more people-friendly. The MSA appeals to Infrastructure Malta not to rush this process, and to be guided by evidence-based policymaking.

Giving Local councils a mere six weeks to apply for funds from the Vjal Kulħadd (Everyone's Boulevard) initiative can possibly have unintended consequences due to lack of time, preparation, and studies in the drafting of proposals. For example, the sociological study of social impacts should be mainstreamed in such proposals so as to help ensure  continuous community and stakeholder involvement, which are essential components of Social Impact Assessments, and that pavements, roads, and infrastructure are as inclusive, equitable, and sustainable as possible.

The Malta Sociological Association therefore appeals for a more thorough application process for this otherwise positive policy proposal.

EU Public Consultation: EU-wide multimodal travel – new specifications for information services - MSA feedback

Link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12912-EU-wide-multimodal-travel-new-specifications-for-information-services/feedback_en?p_id=32168419

The Malta Sociological Association appeals to the European Commission to employ a social impact assessment, through an ongoing process, on this matter, conforming to guidelines such as those of the International Association for Impact Assessment. This would enable a thorough assessment of the social dimension of the specifications for information services for EU-wide multimodal travel.

Press Release: Towards Safer Transport in Malta: Sociologists submit proposals

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) welcomed the public consultation on transport safety in Malta, comprising a proposal for the setting up of a Transport Safety Investigation Commission.

 In its feedback to the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, MSA said

MSA believes that  social-scientific tools should be used to explore, analyse and acknowledge various dimensions of  transport safety. This includes ongoing social impact assessments to inform evidence-based policy making. Recommended applicable standards for SIA include those of the  International Association for Impact Assessment.

 

The MSA emphasizes the importance of safe and accessible pavements and the implementation of standards in this regard. We are drawing attention that so far the public consultation document mentions pedestrians as vulnerable road users in a footnote once.  The communication could propose a bureau which will be responsible for ensuring safety of pedestrians (as in transport on foot), having the responsibility to review the suitability of pedestrian infrastructure (pavements, street crossings, street lighting etc), and ensuring accessibility of pedestrian areas (that these are free from encroachment of vehicles - such as scooters and parked cars/motorcycles, private sector interests, addressing effect of bins on pavements etc). 

 

The MSA is also proposing that the Transport Safety Commission should include representatives from related disciplines in academia, civil society, local/regional authorities and related professions. 

 

Finally, the MSA is referring to social-scientific research carried out by Kimberly Nicholas and Pauld Kuss at the Lund University for Sustainability Studies and published in ‘Case Studies on ‘Transport Policy’, which measures the effect of various initiatives to reduce urban car use whilst improving quality of life and people’s sustainable mobility.

 

Their study analyses 800 peer-reviewed studies throughout Europe published since 2010, and it consequently ranks the 12 most effective measures that European cities have introduced in recent decades, The main conclusion of the research is that to “improve health outcomes, meet climate targets and create more liveable cities, reducing car use should be an urgent priority”.

 

The study recommends the 12 best ways to reduce city car use, namely Congestion charges; Parking and traffic controls; Limited traffic zones; Mobility services for commuters; Workplace parking charges; Workplace travel planning; University travel planning; Mobility services for universities; Car sharing; School travel planning; Personalised travel plans; and Apps for sustainable mobility. One can access more details on each policy through the respective article, which is available online. A summary of the study can be found at: https://theconversation.com/12-best-ways-to-get-cars-out-of-cities-ranked-by-new-research-180642

Public Consultation: Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) for the Valletta Region

 Date: 6 December 2022

From: Malta Sociological Association 

To:    Valletta SUMP Public Consultation, Transport Malta
                Risk Management, Policy and EU Affairs Department       

Re: Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) for the Valletta Region

Link: https://meae.gov.mt/en/Public_Consultations/MTI/Pages/Consultations/SustainableUrbanMobilityPlanSUMPfortheVallettaRegion.aspx

 

With reference to the consultation in question, the Malta Sociological Association (registered VO 1323) proposes that the entire policy process employs social impact assessments in an ongoing process.

 

The International Principles for Social Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”.

 

An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises: To the contrary, they should be ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.

 

In this regard, you may refer to international SIA standards, for example those set by the International Association for Impact Assessment, which is accessible from this link:

 

https://www.socialimpactassessment.com/documents/IAIA%202015%20Social%20Impact%20Assessment%20guidance%20document.pdf  

 

Reference: Frank Vanclay (2003) International Principles For Social Impact Assessment, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 21:1, 5-a12, DOI: 10.3152/147154603781766491

 

 

Press Release: Gozo Airfield Public Consultation

The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) has submitted its official feedback to the Gozo Regional Development Authority regarding the Gozo Rural Airfield proposal. 

MSA notes that in section 6  ‘Potential Impacts and Benefits of the Proposed Intervention’, the document states that as regards ‘socio-economic impacts’, “To assess the expected socio-economic impacts and benefits of the proposed Airfield project, the Ministry for Gozo (proponent of the project) commissioned a Cost Benefits Analysis study.”. The findings of this study are then presented in two tables and six short paragraphs (  https://grda.mt/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Gozo-Airfield_Impact-Statement.pdf )

MSA holds that whilst a cost-benefits analysis study is a useful tool, provided it uses proper research methods and is peer-reviewed, in no way can this exercise be considered to provide an adequate social impact assessment.

MSA is therefore proposing that a social impact assessment (SIA) be commissioned on the development proposal.  The SIA should be carried out by qualified sociologists through an open public call.

Various methods, both quantitative and qualitative, should be used within the SIA, to provide reliable and valid data. It should involve the participation of different stakeholders. Analytic indicators should be provided and the entire process should be subject to peer review by independent experts in the field. This could help identify shortcomings and possible improvements to the same SIA.

The SIA should not be a one-off exercise. It should be ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders, and which reports back so as to ensure effective policy processes.

MSA refers to international SIA standards, for example those set by the International Association for Impact Assessment: 

 https://www.socialimpactassessment.com/documents/IAIA%202015%20Social%20Impact%20Assessment%20guidance%20document.pdf

The MSA is at the disposal of the Gozo Regional Development Authority should it wish to discuss further.