Social & Community Impact

At SLR, we have over 30 years’ experience working with our clients to maximise positive, or minimise negative, impacts on society.

Working across private, public, international development funding and not for profit sectors, we support our clients across the globe to define, assess and manage their social impacts and performance for multiple audiences, from C-suite to local community.

diverse range of overlapping hands

Social & Community Impact Overview

Whether through global or local social impact strategies (addressing key areas such as Human Rights, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or supply chain risks), focused community programs and partnerships, or by innovating for social impact in direct business practices, operations, products, and services, we help our clients understand, measure, and improve their broader socio-economic and value chain impacts—from job creation and procurement to consumer health and well-being.

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We support our clients in managing social performance to comply with international standards (Equator Principles, World Bank & IFC performance standards) and work to achieve the balance between project development and safeguarding of resilient and inclusive communities through our subject matter expertise in labour, gender, cultural heritage, indigenous peoples, community health & safety, sustainable livelihoods, resettlement and land acquisition. This includes robust stakeholder engagement throughout the project life cycle.

SLR can also provide clients with frameworks and practical management tools to enhance and authenticate their social and community impact efforts through B4SI: the global standard in measuring and managing corporate social impact, used by 200+ of the world’s leading companies to articulate and measure the positive impact they have in the world. The B4SI Frameworks form a robust measurement standard that any company can apply to understand the difference their contributions make to business and society through community investment, business innovation and social procurement.

Social & Community Impact Related Capabilities

Business & Human Rights

Understanding impacts and responsibilities of business on human rights at both corporate and project implementation level.

DE&I

At SLR, we help our clients unlock the benefits of a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, supply chain, and approach to community engagement. ​

We provide a range of services, from developing corporate DE&I strategies through to conducting project-specific impact assessments and action plans focusing on specific marginalised groups. ​

We deliver expert advice and training to enhance awareness and understanding of the DE&I landscape, while developing strategies, assessments, management plans and practical tools to respond to an ever-changing DE&I landscape. ​

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Gender advisory services

As industry leaders in social governance and safeguarding, at SLR we are deeply committed to integrating gender considerations into every facet of our clients’ operations. ​

Thanks to our specialist experience spanning over 12 sectors and 5 continents, we have developed a comprehensive portfolio of services to assess, plan, implement and monitor gender-responsive approaches across our clients’ operations. With an experienced team of gender specialists, a global pool of social experts and a worldwide network of consultants and translators we routinely partner with, we have been involved in over 70 gender-specific projects around the globe, providing tailored assessments, plans and tools to enhance gender inclusion and mitigate negative impacts on women.

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Supporting Technical Services

Impact Management (via Business for Societal Impact, B4SI)​

Applying the B4SI Frameworks – the global standard for managing impact across 3 routes, community investment, social innovation, social procurement.

Supporting Technical Services

Just Transition

Implementing a Just Transition means ensuring the costs and benefits (negative and positive impacts) of a transition to a low carbon economy are fairly distributed by placing people at the centre of transition planning and implementation.

Related pages:

Climate change is not gender neutral: The need for a Just Transition

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Measurement

Helping clients measure and improve their broader socio-economic and value chain impacts through bespoke frameworks and assessment.

Related pages:

B4SI

Supporting Technical Services

Responsible Sourcing

Identifying and managing ESG risks in a company’s supply chain to actively source products and services in an ethical, sustainable and socially conscious way, whilst leveraging opportunities to realise positive change.

Social Safeguards

Assessing and ensuring compliance with Social aspects of the Equator Principles (EP) and International Finance Corporation (IFC)/World Bank (WB) Performance Standards for the assessment and management of social impacts and risks. 

Related pages:

Tackling social and resettlement challenges

Developing criteria to measure social mine closure outcomes

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Strategy & Implementation

Supporting clients to align social impact with core business objectives and develop strategies that maximise value to society and the business, linking community investment to strategic priorities. We can support you with the following services: ​

  • Horizon scan, landscape assessments and benchmarking ​
  • Strategic framework development and roll out ​
  • Target setting and implementation roadmap ​
  • Measurement framework and data collection ​
  • Programme development ​
  • Partnership selection and review ​
  • Impact Measurement

Supporting Technical Services

Social & Community Impact Projects

  • Project

    Africa

    UKAid

    Built Environment

    EMPOWER - Tackling sexual harassment on public transport in sub-Saharan Africa


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  • Project

    Perth, Australia

    Public Transport Authority

    Infrastructure

    Advanced engineering of acoustic treatments in the Airport Rail Line tunnel


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  • Project

    Preston, UK

    Vision-led planning - Pickerings Farm, Penwortham

    Built Environment

    Vision-led planning - Pickerings Farm


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  • Project

    Brattleboro, Vermont, USA

    Brattleboro Housing Partnership

    Infrastructure

    Melrose Terrace floodplain restoration


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  • Project

    Dunedin, New Zealand

    Ōtākou Health Limited

    Government & Communities

    Te Kāika Wellbeing Hub Development


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  • Project

    Europe

    European Commission

    Built Environment

    MORE - Multi-modal optimisation of urban road space in Europe


    Read more
  • Project

    Keene, New Hampshire, USA

    City of Keene, NH

    Built Environment

    Patricia T. Russell Park


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  • Project

    Victoria, Australia

    Undisclosed

    Technology, Media & Telecoms

    Planning due diligence for North Victorian telecommunications alignment


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  • Project

    Cairo, Egypt

    European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

    Built Environment

    Egypt National Rail - Improving safety and security


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  • Project

    Bridgewater, Massachusetts, USA

    The Nature Conservancy / Town of Bridgewater, MA

    Infrastructure

    High Street Dam removal and Bridge replacement


    Read more
  • Project

    Queensland, Australia

    City of Moreton Bay

    Manufacturing & Industry

    Narangba Innovation Precinct and Environs Environmental Health Impact Investigations


    Read more
  • Project

    Europe

    The European Commission

    Built Environment

    CREATE - Congestion Reduction in Europe: Advancing Transport Efficiency


    Read more
  • Project

    Lanesville, New York, USA

    Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program

    Infrastructure

    Stony Clove Creek stream turbidity reduction


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  • Project

    Victoria, Australia

    Lochard Energy

    Power, Renewables & Energy

    Winton H2REFUEL Statutory Environment and Planning Approvals


    Read more
  • Project

    Europe

    The European Commission

    Built Environment

    CIVITAS Renaissance - Sustainable urban mobility planning


    Read more
  • Project

    Hardwick, Vermont, USA

    Caledonia County Natural Resource Conservation District

    Infrastructure

    North Main stormwater improvements


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  • Project

    Queensland, Australia

    City of Logan

    Manufacturing & Industry

    Emissions & Hazardous Activities Code & Industry Thresholds Review


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  • Project

    Europe

    The European Commission

    Built Environment

    CIVITAS Destinations - Sustainable mobility for tourist towns


    Read more
  • Project

    West Haven, Connecticut, USA

    City of West Haven, CT

    Infrastructure

    Cove River tidal marsh restoration, pedestrian bridge and Sea Bluff Beach park improvements


    Read more
  • Project

    New Zealand

    Rural Connectivity Group

    Technology, Media & Telecoms

    Supporting New Zealand’s rural broadband initiative phase 2


    Read more
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