Report on Grievance Redressed Mechanism (GRM) & Safeguard Training

Transcription

1 Report on Grievance Redressed Mechanism (GRM) & Safeguard Training Higher Education Development Program Ministry of Higher Education October, 2017

2 Contents Background/ Preface... 2 Introduction/ Objective... 3 Target Groups... 3 Proposed Trainers... 4 Modality of Training... 4 Tracking impact/ Monitoring Methodology... 7 Conclusion... 7 ANNEX ANNEX ANNEX

3 Background/ Preface The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has drafted a Second National Higher Education Strategic Plan (NHESP II) for It outlines the government s vision, mission and values, strategies and interventions, aimed at achieving the long-term higher education development goals of the country. The main aim of the NHESP II is to improve the quality and economic relevance of the higher education sector; and increase participation in higher education, with a special focus on labor market-oriented degree programs. The World Bank has initiated Higher Education Development Project (HEDP) with financing from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) to support the GoA s NHESP II. In support of (NHESP II) for an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) has been developed in tandem with a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) as a combination of due diligence instruments required to address and manage environmental and social impacts associated with the NHESP II. The framework has been prepared to meet the World Bank safeguard requirements and Government of Afghanistan (GoA) environmental procedures and will be disclosed prior to appraisal of the HEDP. The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) is the agency responsible for implementing the provisions and recommendations outlined in the ESMF. The objective of the ESMF is to provide a framework for effective management of environmental and social issues in the proposed NHESP II. It seeks to both enhance environmental and social development benefits of the NHESP II and mitigate any adverse impacts, in line with GoA and World Bank policies and guidelines on management of environmental and social development issues. Considering the ESMF, MoHE/ HEDP established a Grievance Redressed Mechanism (GRM) with a clear set of goals and objectives and a well-defined scope for its interventions, as well as a set of procedures for receiving, recording, and handling complaints. 2

4 Introduction/ Objective Referencing the ESMF guidelines, a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) has been established by MoHE/ HEDP to ensure that the views and concerns of HEDP beneficiaries and of those affected by the construction and function of University activities are heard and acted upon in a timely, effective and transparent manner. Moreover, all the public universities established the requested committees of (GRCs) into their universities. To utilize this mechanism properly and address the beneficiaries complaints timely, HEDP Safeguard team conducted a Safeguard and GRM training for all GRM focal points at HEDP/ MoHE. The main objective of this training was to: 1. Introduce the Second National Higher Education Strategic Plan (NHESP II), ESMF, Social and Environmental protection 2. Introduce GRM and grievance handling system properly 3. Educate them about the grievance redress mechanism procedure 4. Introduce this system to the all HEDP beneficiaries through this training Target Groups This training was conducted on October 24, 2017 for 35 Provincial/ Site level GRC Focal Points, Central/ MoHE Level GRC members plus Planning and Policy Directorate Engineers. Proposed Trainers Since the trainings mainly focus on GRM Procedure plus Social and Environmental impacts on community, the training was covered by Environmental and Social Specialists of Higher Education Development Program (HEDP). 3

5 Modality of the Training Considering the agenda of the program, the training has been conducted in one full day in HEDP/MoHE. Brief of Second National Higher Education Strategic Plan (NHESP II) A brief of Higher Education Development Program Overview of ESMF Grievance Redress Mechanism Introduction Purpose of GRM Establishment GRM Procedure Grievance Redress Committees TORs and main responsibilities of the committee Complaint receiving and addressing process Complaint refereeing process After the recitation of Holy Quran, HEDP Director (Noor Ahmad Darwish) has started the program with a warm welcome and brief introduction to HEDP Components, activities and achievements. 4

6 Continuously, the Second National Higher Education Strategic Plan (NHESP II) plus Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) have been explained with detail by Mohammad Yasin Noori (Environmental Specialist). Furthermore, the Social and Environmental protection methodology and guidelines were part of the morning agenda as well. The Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) was the next agenda of this program that has been explained by Muzhgan Aslami the Social Safeguard Specialist. In this session an introduction to the GRM, the purpose of its establishment and resources to this mechanism was explained. Besides, the GRM Procedure (the ways of receiving the complaints, sorting of the complaint, sharing the complaints with GRC members, the condition of sharing the complaint with central committee in case the problem is not solved with site level committee) and using of database and logbook while recording the grievances were the next topics of this presentation. Moreover, the focal points were asked to utilize this mechanism into their universities as they get back, and 5

7 conduct a training session for the universities committee members and an awareness program for the beneficiaries. The GRM focal point, Ms. Silsila Jabarkhail, has discussed two topics as part of her presentation. Firstly, she talked about how GRM focal points can raise the awareness of GRM in their relevant universities. Based on her presentation, GRM focal points are required to conduct GRM Awareness Raising Campaign in the universities. Furthermore, the universities chancellors and coordinators were advised to conduct this particular campaign in different forms and utilizing various tools. To conduct awareness raising campaign, the participants of the training were guided to conduct gatherings with the close collaboration of universities chancellors and faculties deans. Moreover, participants were trained on using social and printed media for the awareness raising purposes and reaching wide range of audiences. To do this, participants of the training were advised to communicate this issue with the universities publication departments so that they would also contribute to this campaign. 6

8 Secondly, participants of the training were trained on how they can share their GRC activities with the Ministry Level focal point on monthly and weekly basis. For this, the participants were provided with the reporting template which they can use to send the reports of complains registered and redressed. Tracking Impact/ Monitoring Methodology Monthly reporting system has been proposed for this mechanism. The provincial GRC focal points are supposed to share monthly GRM report of their universities with MoHE/ HEDP focal point and the collected data would be shared as part of bi-monthly report of the project. Conclusion This trainings was conducted to provide a clear understanding of the GRM process and make sure that that participants understand the importance and effectiveness of this mechanism and its procedure. Moreover, this training aimed to convey the shared information with all public universities and HEDP beneficiaries through the GRM focal points. 7

9 ANNEX 1: List of Universities (the representatives) Participated for the GRM & Safeguard Training No Universities 1 Kabul University 2 Medical University 3 Polytechnic University 4 Kabul Education University 5 Al-Bironi University 6 Parwan University 7 Takhar University 8 Bamyan University 9 Khost University 10 Balkh University 11 Nengarhar University 12 Paktiya University 13 Kandahar University 14 Jawzjan University 15 Ghazni University 16 Baghlan University 17 Laghman University 18 Kunduz University 19 Sayed Jamaludin Afghan University / Kunar 20 Faryab University 21 Badakhshan University 22 Helmand Higher Education Institute 23 Badghis Higher Education Institute 24 Samangan Higher Education Institute 25 Panjshir Higher Education Institute 26 Paktika Higher Education Institute 27 Uruzgan Higher Education Institute 28 Sar-e-Pul Higher Education Institute 29 Ghor Higher Education Institute 30 Farah Higher Education Institute 31 Logar Higher Education Institute 32 Ghazni technical University 33 Maidan Wardak Higher Education Institute 34 Daikundi Higher Education Institute 35 Herat University 8

10 ANNEX 2: Agenda of the Training Ministry of Higher Education National Higher Education Strategic Plan II/ Environmental and Social Management Framework- ESMF Higher Education Development Program-HEDP/Safeguard Department ESMF-GRM Awareness Rising Workshop (HEDP Meeting Room) Program Agenda Day Date: Tuesday 24 October 2017 Session 1 Opening and Introduction 09:00 Holy Quran Recitation 09:05-09:30 Registration & Self-introduction 09:30 09:40 Opening Remarks; HEDP Director- Noor Ahmad Darwish Environmental and Social Management Framework ESMF/GRM-NHESP II/MoHE 09:10-09:30 By: Safeguard Specialists-HEDP - NHESP II Introduction 09:30-10:10 - ESMF introduction 10:10-10:25 Tea Break 10:30-11:00 - Environmental and Social Protection 11:00-12:00 - HEDP Components/Construction sectors ESMP/ESMF 12:00-01:00 Lunch and Pray Break Session 2 GRM/GRCs Process/Complains 01:30-02:00 - GRM- Central and Local GRCs 02:00-03:00 - Local GRCs Responses and Referring Process 03:00-03:30 - Local GRC Training/ Beneficiary Awareness 03:30 03:40 - End - Asking question and discussion? 9

11 ANNEX 3: Pictures of the GRM and Safeguard Workshop 10

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