HIA Guides and Tools: how to read the chart (General Guides)

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Appendix: Classification System for General HIA Guides

Definitions of HIA Statement of the principal characteristics and basic notions of HIA.
--	No elements about the definitions or basic notions.
+	Clearly presents at least one of the following elements: § Definition of HIA or at least one related notion (e.g. health; determinants of health; impact on health); OR § Objectives pursued with HIA (e.g. goals, objectives, justifications, advantages).
++	Includes at least one of the elements identified in the + category, along with: § Other elements related to the basic notions described in summary form (e.g. basic principles and values associated with HIA [e.g. democracy, equity, transparency, ethical use of data], the place of HIA in relation to other types of impact assessment).
+++	Includes the elements identified in the + and ++ categories, but in a detailed manner.

Procedures and Methods Description of the steps involved, the means to use and the methods to follow in the realization of an HIA.
--	No elements about procedures or methods.
+	Summary, with or without diagrams, of the steps involved – e.g. the steps are named and very briefly described; there is no major discussion about methodological or practical aspects.
++	Detailed description, with or without diagrams, of the steps involved – e.g. the steps are named and described (e.g. the people who should be solicited to participate and the roles of each; the order of the steps and when to take them; ways of doing things), but there is no major discussion about methodological or practical aspects.
+++	Very detailed description, concrete, and with diagrams, of the steps involved – e.g. the steps are named and described in a more detailed manner than in category ++, notably in the treatment of methodological or practical aspects (e.g. types of data to use; consideration of constraints in terms of available resources; cost of the HIA).

Tools All work instruments proposed to facilitate the realization of the steps of an HIA (e.g. screening grid).
--	No tools are suggested.
+	One or two (1-2) tools are suggested.
++	Three or four (3-4) tools are suggested.
+++	Five or more tools (≥ 5) are suggested.

Appendix: Classification System for General HIA Guides – continued

Case Studies or Examples The degree of detail in the presentation of an HIA experience; the cases or examples can be from countries, regions or municipalities that are interested in HIA; legislation, plans for programs or projects for which the HIA were done, are in progress or planned; etc.
--	No case studies or examples.
+	Names one or several cases or examples but without giving precise details about them.
++	Summarized description of one or several (< 10) cases or examples, mentioning the context, the framework used, the results or recommendations made in the HIAs being reported.
+++	Describes in a detailed way one or several cases or examples (OR in summary form ≥ 10 cases or examples) OR analyses with the goal to draw experience from them.

Resources The body of collected documents or Internet sites referenced that can shed light on HIA or facilitate it being put into practice[1].
--	No resources are suggested.
+	From one to five (1-5) resources are suggested in relation to HIA.
++	From six to ten (6-10) resources are suggested in relation to HIA.
+++	More than ten (> 10) resources are suggested in relation to HIA.

Characteristics and Distinctive Features

Characteristics of the guide, particularly in terms of its purpose, target clientele, context and specific content elements (other impact assessments, participation, Aboriginals).

[1] The resources suggested must be specific to HIA. For example, legislative documents used to put information into context and resources used for developing a population’s profile (e.g. national statistics) are not included in this classification.