Environmental health impact assessment of development projects: a practical guide for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

Abstract

Development projects, in whatever sector, aim to have a beneficial effect on human well-being. Sometimes, however, impacts associated with a development project may include unexpected negative effects on health. Many of these can be avoided by careful planning, including environmental health impact assessment (‎EHIA)‎. A simple trade-off between benefits and adverse effects is unacceptable. Without unduly delaying development, EHIA aims at minimizing the negative impacts and, at the same time, provides a mechanism to identify health opportunities. This publication was developed in collaboration with international and regional partners and fills a gap in regard to EHIA guidelines in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It aims to assist government authorities in the promotion and protection of human health and the environment upstream in development policies. It provides directives on the design of terms of reference for consultants in charge of performing EHIA studies and proposes procedures for the review of assessment reports for informed decision-making on proposed economic development projects