While the summer heat is slowly winding down here in South Korea, the IRM is retaining its energy to prepare for the highlights of this year’s activities in the fall. The IRM received two new complaints – one in Nicaragua and another in Pakistan – over the summer and the Case Lead is engaging with parties to discuss the next steps in the Nicaragua case. In collaboration with Oxfam and Natural Justice, the IRM will be holding virtual outreach events for the West Africa region, and the yearly capacity building events for the Grievance Redress Mechanism personnel of Direct Access Entities are just around the corner. The Grievance Redress and Accountability Mechanism (GRAM) community of practice continues to serve as a stage for active discussion around grievance redress, and the IRM is also ramping up its communications strategies to enhance the accessibility of its stakeholders.
Meet the IRM’s team
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FP001 - Building the Resilience of Wetlands in the Province of Datem del Marañon, Peru
The IRM received a progress report from the GCF Secretariat in June 2021 which indicated a delay in fulfilling the fourth undertaking due to Covid-19. The next progress report is due at the end of December 2021. Visit the case page.
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FP043 - Saïss Water Conservation Project, Morocco
The case has been resolved through problem solving. Mediation was conducted in Morocco, and the parties agreed to a set of measures to ensure the effective engagement of community members in project implementation. Visit the case page.
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FP146 - Bio-CLIMA: Integrated climate action to reduce deforestation and strengthen resilience in BOSAWÁS and Rio San Juan Biospheres, Nicaragua
The IRM received a new complaint in June 2021. The complainant(s) alleged that the project would harm the indigenous and Afro-descendant communities inhabiting the project area. The case was declared eligible and it is now in the initial steps phase where the Case Lead is engaging with parties to gain more information about the project and discuss the next steps. Visit the case page.
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FP018 - Scaling-up of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk reduction in Northern Pakistan
A new complaint was received in August 2021. This complaint relates to a labour issue between an Accredited Entity and an individual consultant. During the eligibility determination phase, the complainant(s) withdrew the complaint. Visit the case page.
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Welcoming Two New Team Members
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Ms. Christine Reddell, the IRM’s Registrar and Case Officer, has now moved onto the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a Research Specialist. The IRM welcomes Ms. Preksha Krishna Kumar (right) as its new Registrar and Case Officer. She has 7 years of experience as a human rights researcher and campaigner at the International Accountability Project. The IRM also welcomes Ms. Safaa Loukili Idrissi (left) from Morocco as an intern at the IRM. She studies Environmental Change and Management at the University of Oxford. Thank you and good luck, Christine! And welcome, Preksha and Safaa!
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GCF Board Guidelines on the IRM's Cases
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In July 2021, the GCF Board adopted an innovative and standard-setting set of guidelines to improve the management of the IRM’s cases. This is a notable step towards enhanced transparency of the GCF Board. These guidelines may set a standard for Boards of other international financial institutions. Read the IRM’s press release and the guidelines.
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Ethical Walls Instituted for IRM Case by GCF's General Counsel
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With regard to a recent complaint from Nicaragua filed with the IRM, the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) has informed the IRM that it has established and will maintain ethical walls between the legal counsel supporting the task team (project counsel, as necessary supported by the General Counsel), while support to the IRM will be led by the Deputy General Counsel with selective support from institutional counsel who have no involvement in projects. The institution of such ethical walls reflects best international practice and accords with the highest ethical standards for lawyers which are consistently adhered to within the OGC.
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IRM's Communications Efforts
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With the help of the IRM’s Communications Consultant and Social Media Consultant, the IRM has distributed surveys to and conducted interviews with its stakeholders in order to develop a set of communications strategies for the coming three years. Our engagement with the stakeholders has revealed some interesting insights. Read more here.
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2021 Capacity Building Training Events of the IRM
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One of the IRM’s mandates is to build the capacity of the staff of Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs) of the GCF’s Direct Access Entities. This fall, the IRM will be offering three rounds of regional capacity building trainings and an advanced mediation training. Find out more about the trainings here.
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GRAM Partnership Webinars
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The Grievance Redress and Accountability Mechanism (GRAM) partnership - community of practice came together to discuss issues of accessibility and retaliation at a webinar hosted by Accountability Counsel in July. This was the second webinar of the year, following the one hosted by the IRM in April. Check out the interesting discussions that took place in both events here, and join us in the next webinar by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
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The IRM has finalised the first version of its gender strategy note, and it is now taking real actions to implement the strategies. The IRM now compiles data of its stakeholders’ genders and are being trained on gender issues and on handling cases involving allegations of sexual exploitation abuse and harassment (SEAH). The IRM continues to recruit gender and SEAH experts for its subject expert roster. Access the IRM’s blog on its latest gender journey here.
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Intro Session for the IRM Panels of Consultants
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The IRM maintains three panels of mediators, translators and subject experts. Given the important role they play for the IRM, the IRM hosted an online introductory session on its functions and processes in May. Take a look at the important role our panel of experts play for the IRM. The next information session for the panelists will be on 23 September 2021.
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Participatory Monitoring and the GCF
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Participatory monitoring is an important tool for redress and accountability, as well as in project planning. The IRM recently dove into the benefits and challenges of participatory monitoring. Read more about how participatory monitoring can benefit the IRM and the GCF here.
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Nature of Complaints in Climate Change Projects
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Is there a difference between complaints and grievances in adaptation projects and mitigation projects? Should a different set of criteria be considered in designing grievance systems for climate adaptation and mitigation projects? These were two thought-provoking questions recently posed to the IRM Head. Find out more about the IRM’s research on this topic here.
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The IRM’s online learning modules available in French and Spanish
The IRM’s online learning modules are available in two additional languages, French and Spanish. As a response to our stakeholders’ comments, we also provide discussion forums in three different languages. Sign up on the GCF’s iLearn platform to access these training materials and engage with other people using the discussion forum.
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Exciting, Must-Attend COP26 Event
The One Ocean Hub, the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance, and the IRM are organising a joint side event on ensuring sustainability and accountability of climate mitigation and adaptation projects. The theme will be on Climate-related conflict: Arts-based mediation and recourse to redress. Mark your calendars! It will be on 10 November 2021, 2:30 - 5:00 PM BST, both on Zoom and at the University of Strathclyde. View the flyer here.
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IRM Social Media Toolkit
Help us reach those who need to #accessRedress and spark conversations to show how #redressCounts. Share suggested messages, photos, and videos from our social media toolkit.
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