The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) is training some of the district councils in the country in Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) as government continues implementation of the Scaling up the use of modernised Climate Information and Early Warning Systems (M-CLIMES) project.
M-CLIMES is a six year project and among others, it has installed community based flood early warning systems in 21 sites of flood prone rivers in 8 districts saving lives from flood disasters.
Speaking at Salima District Council during the opening of the training, DoDMA's Deputy Director of Risk Reduction, Fedson Chikuse said M-CLIMES involves many activities and several stakeholders, beneficiaries and interest groups.
Chikuse said concerns, complaints and feedback related to the project implementation are inevitable hence the need for a vibrant GRM for effective project implementation.
“Grievances related to M-CLIMES include gender based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, theft and abuse of project property and environmental pollution and safety issues, among others,” said Chikuse.
He said the GRM would help to reduce conflict risk of undue delay and complication in project implementation, ensure that the rights of affected parties are respected and provide a systematic way to deal with grievances.
On her part, Salima District Commissioner, Grace Kanyimbiri said the grievance redress committee receives and addresses any concerns, complaints, notices of emerging conflicts or grievances hence the need for the training for an effective committee as they handle all issues of any nature.
Kanyimbiri said as trained, it was important that the committee conducts itself at all times in a flexible, collaborative, fair and transparent manner aimed at problem solving and consensus building.
“Let me commend the department and all implementing partners present here for this very important training as we serve our communities towards developing our country.
“With this training we hope that my dedicated and passionate GRM personnel here in Salima will mainstream what we have learnt, not only for this project, but all projects implemented in the district.
M-CLIMES is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through UNDP with DoDMA being the lead Implementing partner.
The trainings will also be conducted in Zomba, Phalombe, Nkhata-Bay, Karonga, Dedza, Nkhotakota and Rumphi.
