The Malta Sociological Association welcomes the public consultation on the "Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention Framework: Policy Framework for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases and the Promotion of Wellbeing".
The MSA recommends that the framework incorporates social impact assessments in line with the International Principles for Social Impact Assessment. The International Association for Impact Assessment defines SIA as being “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”.An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises, but ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes.