Independent advice on operating context, security and operational risk, and the social impacts of projects.
We assess material exposure, document uncertainty and identify proportionate mitigation options. Each assignment connects findings to decision criteria, practical actions and review triggers.
Assignments can address one workstream or combine them around a defined decision, operating requirement or project stage.
We examine political, institutional, social and conflict dynamics around a project or programme. The assessment identifies material exposures, operational dependencies and plausible scenarios, with assumptions and evidence gaps made explicit.
Typical outputs: context assessments, scenario briefs, risk registers and monitoring indicators.
We examine threats, vulnerabilities and exposure across locations, movements, infrastructure and critical dependencies. Scenarios are assessed by likelihood and consequence, with existing controls and residual risk made explicit.
Typical outputs: contextual security assessments, site and route reviews, preparedness priorities, continuity scenarios and mitigation plans.
We support social baseline research, stakeholder mapping and impact scoping. We examine how project activities may affect livelihoods, access to services, community safety and relationships, with attention to vulnerable groups and conflict sensitivity. Impact significance considers severity, duration, reversibility and the distribution of effects.
Typical outputs: social-impact scoping, stakeholder maps, engagement and monitoring priorities, and research inputs for wider impact assessment, permitting or lender review. Where relevant, the work can be framed with reference to the IFC Performance Standards.
The method is proportionate to the decision and records where evidence is incomplete or contested.
An assessment should explain the basis for a conclusion and the conditions under which it may change. Reporting criteria and scales are agreed for the assignment.
Source provenance, observation dates, corroboration and material gaps accompany the findings. Confidence in the evidence is reported separately from the seriousness of the risk.
Risk to an organisation and impacts on people are assessed explicitly. Likelihood, consequence and controls inform risk judgements; the scale, duration and reversibility of effects inform social-impact scoping.
Recommendations identify mitigation priorities, proposed responsibilities, residual exposure and verification needs. Monitoring indicators and escalation triggers connect the assessment to subsequent decisions.
Frameworks help define the questions, assessment criteria and reporting structure. Selection depends on the assignment, applicable requirements and the organisation’s own procedures.
ISO 31000:2018 provides risk-management guidance. IEC 31010:2019 supports the selection of risk-assessment techniques.
Potential application: define context and risk criteria, select suitable assessment methods, document uncertainty and prioritise risk treatment.
ISO 31030:2021 addresses risks to organisations and their travellers.
Potential application: structure travel-risk assessment, preparation, communication and response arrangements for personnel moving through complex environments.
IFC Performance Standard 1 addresses environmental and social risk and impact management, including stakeholder engagement. Performance Standard 4 addresses community health, safety and security.
Potential application: scope social baselines and impacts, identify affected groups, and examine community safety, engagement and mitigation needs.
The agreed scope identifies the relevant framework, edition and assessment boundaries. These references do not imply certification, accreditation or a formal compliance opinion. Specialist studies and assurance are separately scoped where required.
A concise answer to a defined question.
A workstream linked to project design, operational planning or a programme stage.
Continuing support as conditions and exposures change.
Scope, sources, timing, responsibilities and limitations are agreed before work starts. Legal opinions, formal permitting decisions, engineering studies, regulated security services and specialist environmental or social assessments remain with appropriately qualified providers.
S1 provides public evidence for country and counterparty analysis. Ukraine research adds a regional application of the assessment method.
Tell us the decision, exposure or project stage, the locations and stakeholders involved and the timing. We will propose a proportionate scope and output.