Guiding Principles of EIA

a) Participation: appropriate and timely access to the processes for all interested parties.

b) Transparency: all assessment decisions, and their basis, should be open and accessible

c) Certainty: the process and timing of assessment should be agreed in advance and followed by all participants.

d) Accountability: decision-makers are responsible to all parties for their actions and decisions under the process.

e) Credibility: assessments should be undertaken with professionalism and objectivity.

f) Cost-effectiveness: the assessment process and its outcomes will ensure environmental protection at the least cost to society.

g) Flexibility: the assessment process should be able to adapt to deal efficiently and effectively with any proposal or decision-making situation.

h) Practicality: the information and outputs provided by the assessment process should be readily usable in decision making and planning.

Challenges of EIA practice in developing countries

a) Absence of concrete environmental policy

b) Absence of technical expertise

c) Absence of transparent policy

d) Low public participation