By Ahmed Ahmed
The Gombe State Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project has commenced training of stakeholders on Grievances Redress Mechanisms (GRM) for smooth implementations of the project.
The State Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Dr Sani Jauro stated this at the inauguration of five day training for the stakeholders on GRM, on Thursday in Bauchi.
He said the main objectives of the training is grievance redress mechanism, he said “As a project participant, you need to know your rights and the rights of others working with you.
“We want a situation where everything we are doing is within the purview of the project. We want everyone involved to be aware of things to do and not to do.
“We have all our Desk Officers from the eleven LGAs in the state here. We want them to be carried along in the implementation of the project.” Jauro said.
According to him, the stakeholders included traditional institutions, media, line ministries departments and agencies among others were brought together to understand the concept of the project.
“They would also be trained on people’s concerns and right channels of communication for people to express their grievances and timely resolution to such concerns.
The Project Coordinator urged the participants to listen attentively to take back home at the end of the workshop so that all grievances can be effectively handled by them and resolved amicably.
Also, speaking, Alhaji Mohammed Fawu, Gombe State Commissioner for Environment said they brought the stakeholders together to be well informed in respect of the procedure of grievances resolution.
“You know Gombe State Government and ACReSAL through the World Bank has commenced the connection of Mallam Inna to Bima hills, sometime in 2023, they commenced issuance of cheques for compensation.
Fawu, who is also the Chairman Steering Committee of the Project expresses optimism that if the training is carefully followed issues of grievances will be amicably resolved.
In a remark, Alhaji Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator appreciated Gombe State for paving the way of addressing grievances and resolving problems that arise out of project implementation.
“Which if not addressed can lead to wastages and chaos. It also provides an avenue through which communities and other stakeholders exercise their voices.
Umar, represented by Mrs Helen John Gender based Violence consultant to Federal Project Monitoring Unit (FPMU) said the GRM would allow communities to express views,on project activities such as civil work quality and malpractices
“It would also address issues around Gender Based Violence that may arise during implementation.
