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GCF - Independent Redress Mechanism
19 November 2019
Winter 2019, Issue 2
Redress Counts
Even projects like those of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which have a “do good” mandate, can end up having unintended negative impacts. For this reason, institutions like the GCF have put in place safeguards to prevent such harm, and the Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) is one of the units tasked with holding the GCF to account. Since our last newsletter in July, the IRM has continued to raise awareness about its work among potential complainants and requesters, civil society, the public, and GCF staff. The IRM has also strengthened the capacity of grievance mechanisms that are operated by the GCF’s accredited entities and progressed its case work. The IRM’s Work Plan and Budget for 2020 was approved last week at the 24th Meeting of the GCF Board, and the IRM looks forward to an exciting year ahead!

The IRM welcomes Paco Gimenez-Salinas as its new Compliance and Dispute Resolution Specialist. A lawyer by profession, Paco has extensive experience in mediation and will lead the IRM’s problem solving work.

Meet the IRM’s team
GRM Training & GRAM Partnership
From 7-9 October the IRM hosted a training workshop for Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs) of Direct Accredited Entities (DAEs). More than 25 participants from 20 countries and 16 different organizations attended the workshop, which equipped participants with an understanding of the core principles for establishing and operating a successful GRM. The workshop also unpacked the role of project-level GRMs, and how to strengthen and oversee project-level GRMs.  
Read more about the GRM Training Workshop
IRM Self-Initiated Inquiry into FP001, Peru
Earlier this year the IRM concluded its first self-initiated preliminary inquiry into GCF project number FP001 in Peru, which resulted in the GCF Secretariat undertaking to implement several remedial actions. Out of the four undertakings provided, two have now been completed.

Read more about the current status of this case
Civil Society Outreach: IRM goes to Bangladesh and Thailand
The IRM participated in and co-organized several workshops for Civil Society Organizations, including a workshop in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and an Indigenous Peoples workshop in Bangkok, Thailand.
Read more about our Civil Society Outreach
In-reach Capacity Building
To inform staff of its mandate, to share knowledge and to strengthen relationships within the GCF, the IRM hosted another in-reach capacity building workshop in September (our third such workshop this year). Over 20 colleagues from the Division of Country Programming (DCP) and the GCF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) team participated.
Case Management System (CMS) of the IRM
Our new case management system is now live! This new software allows the IRM to systematically track its cases and collect valuable data on its work. The CMS will also facilitate increased public access to IRM information.

Read more about the IRM’s Case Management System
IRM recognized for the setting the bar high
The IRM’s Procedures and Guidelines (PGs), as well as its Terms of Reference (TOR), were cited against multiple indicators as representing best available good practice in a report recently shared by a group of NGOs (led by SOMO). The IRM’s PGs and TOR were also recently referenced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in providing technical assistance to the Chinese government. The ADB cited and adopted in bulk provisions from the IRM’s PGs as representing good practice that Chinese Financial Intermediaries and Banks investing abroad should adopt in establishing their own grievance redress mechanisms.
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