Land and People

Horizon Studio specialises in supporting people, land, and livelihoods that are affected by a variety of projects. 

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Horizon Studio comes in at multiple stages of project planning and execution to make sure these processes are handled properly—so that affected people understand what is happening, can participate meaningfully, and decisions are clear, informed and fair.

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Our work aligns with international standards such as International Finance Corporation Performance Standard 5 (PS5) and World Bank ESS5, and we focus on how these standards are applied in practice on the ground.

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What We Do

We plan and manage the engagement processes with affected people from the start of a project through to its  completion.

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This includes:

• Community meetings where project information is explained clearly

• Participatory planning sessions where people help shape outcomes

• Workshops focused identifying problems and finding achievable, measurable solutions related to land, housing, and livelihoods

• Ongoing engagement to demonstrate meaningful improvement over time, manage expectations and resolve issues early

• Ensuring that engagement is not a once-off exercise, but a continuous, meaningful and evolving process.

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Resettlement and Site Allocation

Horizon Studio designs and implements fair and transparent land allocation processes.

This includes:

• Defining allocation criteria with stakeholders

• Matching households to appropriate sites

• Conducting site walkovers (transects) with affected people

• Explaining land conditions, access, and constraints

• Recording informed acceptance and sign-off

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We make sure that affected people have a full understanding of what they are accepting and are able to make informed decisions. 

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Livelihood Support

Horizon Studio design and support livelihood restoration programmes that are practical and measurable.

This includes:

• Understanding existing livelihoods and risks

• Developing support programmes aligned with local conditions including farming best practices and permaculture principals

• Working with extension teams to deliver support

• Tracking outcomes in productivity, resilience, and income against improvement goals and course correcting as necessary

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The focus is on real outcomes—not just reporting.

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Data and Field Systems

Horizon Studio set up simple, reliable systems to support fieldwork and decision-making.

This includes:

• Mapping land, households, and infrastructure

• Building data collection tools for field teams

• Tracking site allocation, engagement, and livelihoods

• Ensuring data is consistent and usable

• Easy and meaningful data reporting

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Our systems are designed for real-world use in the field.

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Engagement Principals

Horizon Studio follows a straightforward approach:

• Explain the information clearly (no technical language)

• Give affected people time to ask questions and respond

• Record all key decisions and feedback

• Ensure participation is genuine—not forced

• Keep the process transparent from start to finish

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Outcome

• Affected People are informed and included in the process

• Engagement is structured and consistent

• Decisions are better informed

• Disputes are reduced

• Projects meet PS5 / ESS5 requirements