Assessment of Human Rights Risks in the Construction Project: A Case of SGR Project

Abstract

Although the investment in construction projects such as Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) offers numerous benefits, it also poses social, environmental, and human rights risks. As Tanzania is committed to protecting human rights associated with project implementation, the question of how the implementation of the SGR project promotes and ensures the protection of human rights remains a matter of concern. This paper assessed human rights risks/issues that may cause or result from the SGR implementation. Through Key Informant Interviews, field observations and desktop studies, the contractor policies and actions have been assessed to identify how its operations avoid human rights risks where possible, and if unavoidable, how the risks are minimized and mitigated, and where residual impacts remain, how remedies are provided. It was found that the human rights risks range from lower to high-level risks which can adequately be mitigated. The findings have been presented in the form of a human rights heat map. The major human rights risks are those related to land acquisition and resettlement. These include property rights, livelihood rights, right to an adequate standard of living, right to food security, women’s rights, rights of vulnerable groups, right to life, health rights, child rights, and right to education to mention but a few. It is recommended that the contractor need to prepare a human rights implementation plan to mitigate and monitor human rights risks to ensure the sustainability of the SGR project.