When new infrastructure or energy projects are developed, they can affect local communities in many different ways. While most residents may adapt without any major difficulties, some groups are more exposed to risks or have fewer resources to cope with such changes. This is why vulnerability assessments form an important part of environmental and social assessments.
The purpose of a vulnerability assessment is to identify who within the project area may be most affected, what kinds of risks they may face, and how these risks can be reduced. Vulnerability is highly context-specific (depending on the project or the area), but certain groups often require particular attention no matter the project circumstances. Vulnerabilities can also be intrinsic (arising from age, health or environmental exposure), or contextual, emerging when project activities intersect with personal circumstances (such as women with small children, informal land users or households with limited income), or overlapping – a person may belong to multiple categories all at once.
By combining surveys, community consultations and local knowledge, vulnerability assessments help anticipate who may be most affected and how. This information guides practical measures ensuring projects are fair, inclusive and sustainable. For more guidance on how such assessments are made, see our most recent publication:
Assessing vulnerability in environmental and social assessments
