58 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN POLICY AND SECTOR REFORM
SEA process are understood by the major stakeholders. The most important questions relate to the purpose of the process (issues, initiatives, or questions to be addressed); the scale of the process; agency ownership; and the assessment of windows of opportunity. Defining the Purpose and Scale of SEA There may be a number of reasons why SEA might be applied in a particular context, and different stakeholders may well have different perceptions about the purpose of the exercise. It is important for the success of the initiative that different views about the purpose of SEA be clear. Other important questions that require clarification before SEA is implemented include the following: ■ ■ ■ ■
What is the particular policy or sector reform that is being addressed? Are there any interventions being planned that the SEA process should influence? Why are SEA approaches being applied? What is the SEA exercise expected to deliver, and does the answer to this question depend on the perspectives of specific interest groups?
In this preparatory phase of SEA, it is also important for the scale of the exercise to be clear. There is no required template for policy SEA. Inputs of time and resources can vary significantly in different contexts. For example, sometimes a rapid policy SEA, such as the Malawi policy SEA pilot, is appropriate (box 3.1). This might require the professional time of one expert for four or five weeks. It is important to note, however, that the main outcomes BOX 3.1
Rapid Policy SEA Objective The objective of a rapid policy SEA is to include environmental and social issues in the reform agenda and engage key stakeholders in the earliest stages of policy dialogue. Process Analytically, the focus of a rapid policy SEA is on assessing existing laws, regulations, codes of practice, and institutions connected with the environmental and social management of the sector to be reformed. The stakeholder analysis and consultations are tailored to engage key constituencies in the policy dialogue about the need for sector reform. Expected outcome There are two expected outcomes. First is the broadening of policy dialogue on sector reform, which occurs when stakeholders’ awareness of key environmental and social management issues affecting the sector is raised. Second is the development of a road map of environmental and social actions to be undertaken during formulation of sector reform, including a full SEA. Source: Adapted from Loayza and Albarracin-Jordan 2010.