PROFILE: THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT INSTITUTE (IAI)

The Institute was set up in 2015 as an independent body with the mission to scrutinise the evidence base for proposed and active legislation.  It provides impartial scientific and factual analysis on policy and legislative proposals, secondary legislation, amendments, active regulations, evaluations and other relevant policy studies.  The term "Impact Assessment" covers the entire policy process, from Inception Impact Assessments at the introduction of a new policy, through Ex-ante Impact Assessments accompanying policy/legislative proposals to Ex-post Impact Assessments for evaluations.

The independence and impartiality of the Institute is entrenched by its principles, governance and procedures.  Of key importance is the funding of the Institute, which is arranged to ensure there is no narrow dependence on specific interests and that there is arm's length separation between the financing and the content of the Institute's output.

The Four Principles

The mission of the Impact Assessment Institute is "provide impartial, scientific and credible opinions to inform and scrutinise legislation, regulation and policy making" independently from regulating agencies and specific interests.  In order to ensure that the mission can be achieved, four principles have been adopted to guide its operations.  These are objectivity and transparency, generating legitimacy and thereby credibility. 

1. Objectivity: Approaching all tasks of assessment from a purely factual and scientific background
2. Transparency: Providing full, accurate and public information on the sources, analysis and conduct of studies
3. Legitimacy: By demonstrating beyond reproach the above two principles bringing repute and trustworthiness to the Institute.
4. Credibility: Leveraging the legitimacy of the Institute to demonstrate the value of the studies to all stakeholders and the society in general.

Governance

In order to demonstrate impartiality, independence and to fulfil its four guiding principles, the governance structure of the Institute is an essential ingredient.  The governance is guided by the Statutes, which represent the formal constitution of the Institute as a Foundation under Belgian law.  The Statutes are complemented by the Rules for Procedure, which provide additional detail on the structure and functioning. 

The Board of Directors 

The governing body is the Board, which administers the Institute and ensures its sustainable functioning.  Its duties include overseeing operations, decision making on the constituent bodies of the Institute and communication to third parties.  The composition of the Board and its duties are formally defined in the Statutes and the Rules for Procedure.

 The Oversight Board

The Oversight Board is an advisory body of the Institute, whose members are appointed on a personal basis.  Its primary duty is to oversee the four principles and, through its authority and expertise, attest to the impartial conduct of studies, beyond undue influence form interested parties.  It is composed of senior policy experts with the experience and stature to provide credible oversight.  The Oversight Board's function is defined in the Rules for Procedure.

Stakeholder Council

To ensure representation for those bodies with an interest in the Institute's studies, a Stakeholder Council is convened.  Senior representatives from governmental institutions, civil society, business and the public, including the Institute’s sponsors, are invited to participate.  The body has a strategic advisory role to the Board and the Secretariat. 

 Additional support and advice is provided by the Studies Committee, a subcommittee of the Stakeholder Council.  The Studies Committee is composed of experts in regulation and policy from the stakeholders and provides in depth assistance on policy and advance intelligence on future legislative initiatives and have the task to recommend the content of the study programme.  The Stakeholder Council and Studies Committee are being convened in line with the Institute's development.

 Secretariat

 The Secretariat, under the leadership of the Managing Director, carries out the day-to-day work of the Institute, including the compilation and commissioning of studies, monitoring of the regulatory domain, supporting the Board and Committees, finance, administration, outreach and communications.