Environmental and social issues, including aspects of gender-based violence, are given pride of place in the workings of the institutions. The Regional Agency for Agri-Culture and Food (ARAA), whose mandate is to ensure the technical execution of regional programmes and investment plans contributing to the implementation of the Regional Agricultural Policy, has a duty to integrate the application of environmental and social measures into its operations. This is why, as part of the implementation of environmental and social safeguard activities, the Regional Coordination Unit of the West African Food System Resilience Programme (PRSA) organised a capacity-building workshop for RAAA staff on the concepts of environmental and social safeguards, including gender-based violence, from 7 to 8 August 2023 in Lomé.
These two days of training were an opportunity for the forty or so participants to exchange views with the training team made up of : Mr Mohamed Youba Sokona, environmental protection expert at the World Bank; Mr Baidy Tall, social development expert at CORAF; Ms Assétou S. Kaboré, gender-based violence (GBV) expert at AGRHYMET, and Mr Gaoussou Diarra, environmental protection expert at ARAA.
Through explanations supported by concrete examples drawn from the experience of implementing previous projects, participants gained a better understanding of the principles and operation of the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), which serves to protect people and the environment in a range of areas. It focuses on institutional and human capacity building and country ownership of projects. The CES also promotes greater efficiency, flexibility and proportionality, and takes into account the need for consolidation and harmonisation of policies between donors and other entities involved in financing. The ESC is based on 10 standards.
The Complaints Mechanism is a system for receiving, investigating and dealing with complaints arising from the implementation of project activities in a transparent, fair and effective manner. It is an instrument that gives stakeholders the right to denounce abuses, shortcomings, damage, breaches of law or past agreements, and to request compensation or the cessation of the prejudicial act.
ARAA staff were made aware of the measures and codes relating to gender-based violence and the habits to adopt within the organisation and between colleagues.
The workshop ended with the establishment of the ARAA Complaints Management Committee, made up of : BANE Abdoulaye, Legal Adviser and Chairman of the Committee; Gaoussou DIARRA, FSRP Environmental Safeguard Expert, Secretary of the Committee; Carine SOME, Communications Assistant and Committee Communications Officer; Gloria AKPOTO, Administrative Assistant and Armel OGUNIYI, Monitoring and Evaluation Expert, both members of the Committee.
The Committees role is to respond to questions or clarifications relating to complaints, to find solutions to problems and misunderstandings arising from the implementation of activities and to deal effectively and fairly with claims and complaints.
