3. IRM & ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE GCF
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“The Board will establish an
Independent Redress Mechanism
that will report to the Board.The
mechanism will receive complaints
related to the operation of the Fund
and will evaluate and make
recommendations.
4. IRM’S ROLE
• IRM is independent
• IRM is not involved in GCF project origination, implementation or
monitoring
• IRM cannot address specific project-related questions
4
5. THE IRM'S FIVE FUNCTIONS
5
Reconsideration
requests
Advisory
Capacity Building
Outreach
Complaints and
Grievances
9. INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
9
Appeal
• Apply within 60 days after information
denial with letter toAppeals Panel
https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/disclosu
re/appeals
Request for Information
• Submit using online form
• Specify information requested
• Information should be provided within 30 days or
reasons for non-disclosure
https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/disclosure/form
14. WHAT THE IRM CANNOT ADDRESS
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• Fraud, corruption, human resources and finance issues
• Complaints regarding non-GCF projects
• (In)adequacies of GCF policies and procedures
17. IRM CASE EXAMPLE
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• GCF Project: FP043 –The Saϊss Water Conservation Project
• Complainant: Confidential
• Nature of Complaint: Insufficient consultation, lack of
information on access to water and affordability
• Status: Closed following problem solving
18. irm@gcfund.org | +82.32.458.6485 | irm.greenclimate.fund | @GCF_IRM
Contact Us
18
Contact Us
irm@gcfund.org | +82.32.458.7772 | irm.greenclimate.fund | @GCF_IRM
Reconsideration Requests - The IRM addresses requests from developing countries for reconsideration of Board decisions denying funding to a project or programme in that country.
Advisory - Based on lessons learned from its cases and work or good international practices, the IRM provides systemic advice to the GCF on policies and procedures with an eye to improving GCF performance and outcomes.
Capacity Building - The IRM works with GCF direct access entities to help them build capacity related to grievance mechanisms and procedures.
Outreach - The IRM seeks to increase awareness about its work, and share lessons about its experiences with other stakeholders as well as the general public.
Complaints and Grievances - The IRM addresses complaints and grievances from persons adversely impacted by projects or programmes of the GCF.
The main source of information for finding project and programme information is the Green Climate Fund’s website.
This will take you to the project page. Here is where you will find all information related to a specific project, including:
Description
Status
Value
Accredited entity
Relevant documents
If you are unable to find the information you are looking for, you may submit an information request to the Green Climate Fund. This can be done using the online form, where you need to specify what information you are looking for. After 30 days, the Green Climate Fund should either provide the information or give reasons according to their policies, for why they cannot. If the request is denied, you can appeal this decision within 60 days.
A complaint can be filed before the project has been implemented and even before it has been approved, as long as the project is being actively considered for funding by the Green Climate Fund. Complaints can also be filed during the implementation of the project and up to two years following completion of the project or up to two years after any harm is discovered.
The grievance or complaint should be filed by a person, group of persons, community (or any duly authorised representative of the aforementioned groups) who have been or may be affected by the adverse impacts of a GCF funded project or programme.
It is also important to note the things that the IRM cannot address. The IRM cannot process complaints related to fraud, corruption, GCF finances or human resources. These are tackled by another independent unit, the Independent Integrity Unit at the Green Climate Fund.
We also cannot accept complaints not related to any GCF project; complaints regarding the adequacy or inadequacy of GCF policies and procedures; complaints already addressed by the IRM, unless there is new evidence submitted that was previously unavailable; or malicious, frivolous, or fraudulent complaints, and those used to gain a competitive advantage.
Once a complaint has been accepted by the IRM, complainants can choose between two different processes.
The first is problem solving, which aims to help the parties find practical and mutually satisfactory solutions to the concerns raised by the complainant. It does not seek to assign blame or determine who is at fault. It is a voluntary, participatory, flexible, confidential and facilitated process.
The other option is the compliance review. This is an investigation to determine whether a project has failed to comply with relevant Green Climate Fund policies and whether the non-compliance has therefore resulted in harm. This is a more technical process that culminates in an investigation report that is submitted to the GCF Board.
On 16 February 2020, the IRM received a complaint about GCF funded project FP043, the Saïss Water Conservation Project in Morocco, which focuses on transferring excess water from the M’Dez dam to the Saïss Plain region.
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.
Through the problem solving process, the complainant and the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries reached several agreements and the complainant subsequently withdrew their complaint.
