Equity Impact Assessment
In one sentence
A structured look at who could benefit or be harmed by a decision, before it is made.
What it means
An equity impact assessment examines how a policy, product, or service may affect different groups, especially those already facing barriers. It finds problems while they can still be changed cheaply.
The basic steps
Describe
What is the proposed change?
Identify
Who is affected, and who might be missed?
Listen
What do affected people say?
Analyze
Who benefits, who bears the risk?
Act
What will change as a result?
Why it matters
Decisions that appear neutral can affect groups very differently. Assessing impact early avoids costly fixes later and gives leaders evidence that they took the issue seriously.
A simple example
Illustrative scenarioA city plans to move a service online. An assessment shows that older residents and people without reliable internet could lose access, so the city keeps a phone option and adds in-person support.
A common misunderstanding
What people often thinkIt's a form to complete at the end.
What is closer to the truthCompleted late, it only documents a decision. Its value comes from changing the plan while that is still possible.