Course overview

Resettlement is one of the most complex and sensitive aspects of hydropower development. This self-paced online course will equip you with the knowledge and practical tools needed to plan, manage, and evaluate resettlement and livelihood restoration processes in line with international best practices and the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.

Designed for project developers, consultants, government regulators and civil society organisations, this course demystifies key concepts, requirements and real-world applications of socially responsible resettlement.

Course features

Flexible learning

Engage with our content anytime, anywhere, to suit your busy schedule

Interactive activities

Participate in activities and discussions with trainers and fellow learners to deepen your understanding and apply knowledge effectively

Practical tools and resources

Gain access to case studies, templates and guides that you can immediately implement in your projects


Understand key principles in resettlement

Learn how to identify different types of affected people, determine eligibility for compensation and prepare an entitlement framework. This foundational knowledge ensures you can support fair, equitable and transparent planning processes from the outset.

Evaluate resettlement planning and monitoring

Explore how baseline surveys, implementation readiness and long-term livelihood monitoring influence project outcomes. You’ll gain the ability to spot common challenges and propose solutions grounded in best practice.


Enhance communication with communities

Strengthen your ability to engage with project-affected people through inclusive consultations, grievance mechanisms and transparent information sharing. Effective communication fosters trust, addresses concerns early, and ensures lasting improvements in livelihoods.

Who should attend?

Hydropower project managers and social teams who want to deepen understanding of how to integrate resettlement planning into the project lifecycle and ensure resettlement activities meet international best practice

Consultants and social specialists who support hydropower clients and want to gain insights into assessing risks, preparing Resettlement Action Plans, and addressing implementation challenges

Civil society organisations working with or on behalf of project-affected people who want to gain a clearer understanding of how resettlement and livelihood restoration should be approached

Government officials and regulators involved in the permitting, approval, or monitoring of hydropower projects who want to assess whether resettlement plans are legally compliant and socially responsible

Course curriculum

    1. Hello from your trainers

    2. Course outline, objectives and structure

    3. How to navigate the platform

    1. Lesson 1: Introduction to resettlement in hydropower

    2. Activity 1: Identify resettlement impacts

    3. Lesson 2: Important concepts and definitions

    4. Activity 2: Key Resettlement terms and definitions

    5. Quiz: Module 1 review

    1. Lesson 3: Introduction to the HS Standard

    2. Activity 3: HS Standard terms and definitions

    3. Lesson 4: Reporting templates

    4. Activity 4A: Scope and Principle statements

    5. Activity 4B: Becoming familiar with reporting templates

    6. Lesson 5: Scoring methodology

    7. Activity 5: Find the gap

    8. Lesson 6: Gap significance

    9. Activity 6: Judging gap significance

    10. Quiz: Module 2 review

    1. Lesson 7: Resettlement activities in the project life cycle

    2. Activity 7: Match resettlement activities to the project stage

    3. Lesson 8: Resettlement performance requirements

    4. Activity 8A: Minimum requirements

    5. Activity 8B: Advanced requirements

    6. Quiz: Module 3 review

    1. Lesson 9: Avoiding and minimising resettlement

    2. Activity 9: Comparing alternatives

    3. Lesson 10: Scoping resettlement

    4. Activity 10: Conducting resettlement scoping

    5. Lesson 11: Resettlement planning

    6. Activity 11: Completing an entitlement matrix

    7. Lesson 12: Resettlement implementation

    8. Activity 12: Developing a schedule for implementation

    9. Lesson 13: Resettlement monitoring

    10. Activity 13: Identifying indicators

    11. Case studies: Lesson learned in resettlement management

    12. Quiz: Module 4 review

    1. Final Quiz

    2. Congratulations and next steps

    3. Closing survey

About this course

  • €500,00
  • 13 lessons + 2 hours of videos
  • 13 activities and quizzes
  • 20 hours of learning