IRM and IIU collaborate for joint capacity building and outreach workshop in Rwanda

The Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) and Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) recently organised a capacity building and outreach workshop in Kigali, Rwanda. Held from 24th to 28th July, the workshop brought together over thirty participants from eleven countries in East and Southern Africa with the aim of enhancing the capacity of the grievance redress mechanisms (GRMs) of GCF Accredited Entities and raising awareness of grievance redress and integrity issues with civil society.

During the first day of the workshop, Paco Gimenez-Salinas, IRM Head a.i., Sue Kyung Hwang, IRM Executive Assistant and Beatrice Cyiza, Director General of Environment and Climate Change at the Rwandan Ministry of Environment, warmly welcomed staff from GRMs and the Rwandan government working on accountability issues. Mia Quiaoit-Corpus, the IRM's workshop facilitator, introduced the participants to the GCF requirements for GRMs, the principles of an effective GRM, and the key elements in establishing a GRM.

On the second day, civil society organisations working in climate justice, environmental law, human rights, development project impacts, and accountability joined the GRM participants. The joint sessions focused on operating a GRM, managing complex grievances, and resolving company-community disputes.

The third day provided participants with the opportunity to practice their interview and negotiation skills through interactive group exercises. They also shared their experiences in the GRM process. GRMs discussed how they managed operations and addressed complaints, while CSOs shared their experiences using GRMs and how they assisted their communities with grievances.

The fourth and final day of the IRM workshop focused on outreach and communications, highlighting the importance of ensuring a visible, accessible, and transparent GRM. Participants also played the IRM's "Road to Redress" board game, which provided insights into the complaint handling process. CSO participants engaged in a roundtable discussion on retaliation, accessibility and gender issues, and received an overview of some of the GCF's thematic safeguards and policies. The workshop concluded with participants sharing their lessons learned through a wall of learning.

Following the IRM workshop, participants joined the IIU for a capacity building and outreach workshop on integrity issues.

Overall, the joint capacity building and outreach workshop was a success, with participants gaining valuable insights into the importance of grievance redress and integrity in climate action. The IRM and IIU are committed to continuing their outreach and capacity building efforts by building partnerships with stakeholders to ensure that accountability remains an integral part of the Green Climate Fund.