The Niger State Coordinator of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, Mal. Raji Shehu Adam, has said that grievances are bound to arise in the course of implementing projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of communities, which is one of the core targets of the ACReSAL project.
Mal. Adam stated this at the opening ceremony of a five-day training on Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), Use of GRM Application Tools, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Community Sensitization, holding in Minna.
The training is organized by Niger-ACReSAL through Maytech Technology Consultants.
According to the Project Coordinator, ACReSAL interventions touch directly on land, livelihoods, water resources and community assets, and as such, complaints and grievances from community members are inevitable. He therefore stressed the need for a functional and responsive grievance redress system that ensures fairness, transparency and trust between the project and benefiting communities.
He said the GRM is a critical safeguard instrument of the World Bank-supported project, designed to provide community members with accessible channels to lodge complaints and get them resolved promptly, without fear or intimidation.
Mal. Adam also underscored the importance of the Gender-Based Violence component of the training, noting that all project activities must be implemented in a manner that protects women, children and other vulnerable groups in project communities.
He urged participants to take the training seriously and apply the knowledge gained, including the use of the GRM Application Tools, to strengthen project delivery and accountability at community, local government and state levels.
Speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Dam Development, Alhaji Akilu Musa Kuta, commended ACReSAL for organizing the important training at this critical time. He urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity and concentrate fully, so as to acquire lifelong knowledge that will be beneficial to them and their communities.
The training brings together staff of the State Project Management Unit (SPMU), Grievance Redress Committee members, Community Facilitators and other stakeholders from across the project communities in Niger State.
It is expected to equip participants with practical skills in receiving, documenting, tracking and resolving grievances, as well as in conducting effective community sensitization to promote ownership and sustainability of ACReSAL interventions.