J48716 Willend EIA ResearchReport V4 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 18
experience from across the NCEA’s staff, and also
by enabling peer to peer technical collaboration
to those with digital IA expertise from within the
Netherlands, and in some cases beyond this.
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
While not directly engaged in this study, the
research lead was concurrently engaged with the
IFC’s team working on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
related to environmental, social and governance
(ESG). This team has been developing a machine
learning and natural language processing led AI
named MALENA - Machine Learning Environment,
Social and Governance Analyst. The IFC have
conducted extensive work to develop MALENA
based on ESG related information related to IFC
funded projects and are now undertaking beta
testing with a range of external parties to assess
the AI’s effectiveness on a wider spectrum of
material and uses.
In organising and delivering of a joint webinar
for the International Association for Impact
Assessment (IAIA) the IFC team and FothergillTC
identified that the Nigerian FMEnv’s archive of
digitised EIA Reports could provide an opportunity
for a suitable beta test for the IFC’s MALENA. The
researcher has confirmed interest and agreement
from both parties - IFC and FMEnv – to explore this
opportunity; however, this will require engagement
beyond the timeframe of this snapshot study. As
such, the potential beta testing of MALENA in
relation to Nigerian EIA Reports provides FMEnv
with the opportunity to take part in the testing
and application of cutting edge advances in digital
EIA beyond what could be deployed via in-nation
advances in the short-term.
Photo: Abuja City Gate, Abuja, Nigeria.
Sourced from https://experiencingnaija.com
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Willend Associates and FothergillTC Ltd – Digitization in and around Nigerian EIA