Training on Social Outcomes and Social Impact Assessment for Conservation using social science methods
Build practical social science skills for conservation. The Sociat Outcomes and Impact Assessment Training Programme (SOCIAT) provides participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to understand the relationships between people and nature and to integrate social science into conservation practice. The training programme was launched in 2024 and was originally delivered by the University of Warwick, as part of the SOCIAT programme (2024-26).
The training is now led by EcoTransform and Professor Nikoleta Jones, an environmental social scientist with more than 20 years of experience in research, training, and practice. Training is delivered by a team of experienced academics from the University of Warwick and other leading universities, bringing together expertise in conservation social science, stakeholder engagement, social outcomes, monitoring and evaluation, and social research methods.
Participants will gain a practical understanding of the principles of conservation social science and develop skills in stakeholder engagement, understanding social outcomes, questionnaire design, qualitative interviews, and monitoring, evaluation, and Theory of Change. By the end of the programme, participants will be better equipped to generate robust social evidence and integrate social considerations into conservation planning, implementation, and learning.
Topics covered
- Conservation Social Science: The Basics
What is conservation social science and why does it matter? - Stakeholder Engagement
Who are the people affected by or involved in conservation, and why should we engage them? - Social Outcomes of Conservation Projects
What are we trying to understand about how conservation affects people? - Questionnaires
How can we collect quantitative information about people’s knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and experiences? - Interviews
How can we gain deeper insights into people’s perspectives, experiences and values? - Monitoring, Evaluation and Theory of Change
How do we use social data to monitor and evaluate whether conservation projects are achieving their intended outcomes?
SOCIAT training is available in three formats
2-day Face to face training
Online training course
The course includes
6 * 2 hours live training sessions by experts.
One-to-one mentoring sessions to discuss how conservation social science methods can help you in projects you are involved.
12+ hours of independent learning and practical exercises.
12 months access to SOCIAT pages including resources, publications, reports and tools.
A Cetificate of Professional Development recognising approx. 25 hours of learning.
Who is it for?
The SOCIAT Training Programme is open to anyone interested in understanding and assessing the social outcomes of conservation, nature restoration, and any other initiative affecting both people and nature.
Participants may include:
- Nature restoration practitioners
- Protected area managers
- Environmental consultants
- Staff and volunteers from NGOs and community organisations
- Researchers, students, and academics
- Public sector professionals
- Project managers responsible for stakeholder engagement and social impact assessment
- Monitoring, evaluation, and learning specialists
- Sustainability and natural capital professionals
- Anyone seeking to strengthen their understanding of the social dimensions of environmental projects
These examples are not exhaustive, and we welcome applications from individuals with a wide range of professional backgrounds, experiences, and interests.
No advanced social science background is required.
Registration
Expressions of interest are now open for the next online training course.
Places are limited and will be allocated to create a diverse and balanced cohort of participants from different sectors, regions, and levels of experience.
Applications will be reviewed following the registration deadline to ensure a balanced cohort and to help tailor the programme to participants’ needs and experience.
To apply for the programme, please complete the registration form here.
If you have any questions about the training, delivery format, or suitability for you, please contact the EcoTransform team at contact@ecotransform.co.uk
Key Dates
- Registration closes: 20 November 2026
- Places confirmed by: 30 November 2026
- Sessions:
December 2026 – 30 min initial individual session to introduce ourselves, learn more about your work and discuss your needs and priorities for the programme.
15 January 2027 – Live online session*
29 January 2027 – Live online session
12 February 2027 – Live online session
26 February 2027 – Live online session
12 March 2027 – Live online session
25 March 2027 – Live online session
February-March 2027 – 1 * Individual mentoring session with Professor Jones tailored to your needs, providing an opportunity to discuss specific questions or the needs of a programme/project you are working on.
*Live sessions will be held on Fridays from 13:00–15:00 UTC, a schedule selected to accommodate participants from a range of international time zones.
Fees
The standard course fee for the online SOCIAT Training Programme is £600 per participant.
Participants may choose to:
- Pay the full course fee of £600 in advance; or
- Pay in three instalments of £200 (October-December-February).
The programme combines expert-led teaching, practical exercises, peer learning opportunities, personalised mentoring, and access to a comprehensive library of resources to support participants in applying SOCIAT approaches within their own projects and organisations.
To ensure meaningful interaction, personalised feedback, and opportunities for discussion, places are limited.
Subsidised Places and special rates
A limited number of subsidised places are available for participants who may otherwise face financial barriers to participation.
If you work for an organisation that is a member of EUROPARC Federation please get in touch as special reduced rates may be available.
Our Social Enterprise Commitment
EcoTransform is a social enterprise dedicated to strengthening connections between people and nature. We aim to keep the SOCIAT Training Programme accessible while ensuring high-quality delivery and fair compensation for trainers.
Any surplus generated through the programme is reinvested into activities that strengthen connections between people and nature, including community-based initiatives, capacity-building activities, and projects that promote the social benefits of conservation and nature restoration.
SOCIAT module with EUROPARC Federation
One way we support organisations to use SOCIAT is through a free online course, developed in collaboration with the EUROPARC Federation and hosted on the European Nature Academy platform. The course focuses specifically on the SOCIAT survey, providing step-by-step guidance on its application, an introduction to the indicators, and guidance on analysing the social data collected. It is designed to give participants the knowledge needed to apply the SOCIAT survey effectively in their own nature protection and restoration work. You can access SOCIAT course alongside other courses offered by the Academy here: https://www.europeannatureacademy.com/courses
Face to face training
Our face-to-face SOCIAT training brings together practitioners and researchers for hands-on learning in methods for assessing the social impacts of nature protection and restoration, including surveys, participatory mapping and in-depth interviews. Following two successful face-to-face courses in 2025, we are not currently planning another course, but we may offer a further programme in summer 2027. If you would be interested in taking part, please get in touch so we can keep you informed about future opportunities.
Find out more about previous SOCIAT training delivered at the University of Warwick.
Testimonials
Training participant, working for national NGO in South East Asia, June 24-25 Online cohort
One of the best quality learning and development experiences I have had in the sector
Training participant, working for the civil sector, UK, June 2025 (face to face)
What I’ve learned really connects with what I am doing as conservationist working on human-elelhant projects… what I’ve learned in the social impact assessment course I am going to apply it back home as I am working with people managing conflict.
Training participant, Working for international wildlife NGO in Africa, Summer 2025 cohort (face to face)
I really enjoyed being part of the course and have the opportunity to learn from the colleagues and participants as well. I think we are facing similar challenges and the classes were also a space to share them.
Training participant, working for international wildlife NGO in South America, 24-25 online cohort
Training participant, Working for UK conservation organisation, June 2025 (face to face)