C0003 Morocco

On 16 February 2020, the IRM received a complaint which was submitted through its online Case Management System (CMS). The complainant(s) had made a request for confidentiality, and the IRM provided confidentiality in accordance with its Procedures and Guidelines (PGs). The complaint related to GCF funded project FP043, the Saïss Water Conservation Project, based in the Saïss Plain in Morocco. The complaint raised issues around the sufficiency of the consultation conducted and the lack of information provided to the complainant and others who are affected by the Project. The complaint also raised concerns relating to the lack of information and communication on access to water and the affordability of that access. The complaint was declared eligible for further processing by the IRM on 7 April 2020. 

During the consultations held during the initial steps phase, the parties agreed to embark on problem solving on 6 June 2020. Since that date, despite challenges posed by COVID-19 by way of travel restrictions and restrictions on in-person meetings and site visits, multiple virtual meetings were held with the different parties with the support of the IRM problem-solving team. During these meetings, the complainant revoked his request for confidentiality. As a result of these efforts, the complainant and the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries reached several agreements.  The GCF and the Accredited Entity, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in their roles as observers to the process, have confirmed receipt and taken note of the content of the agreements. The complainant also communicated his satisfaction with the outcomes of the process and his wish to terminate the complaint at this point, in full awareness that the IRM would not be involved in the monitoring of the agreements reached by the parties.

In consideration of these facts, the IRM has decided to terminate and close this case.