A meeting was held in the conference hall of the Benue ACReSAL office between the State Project Management Unit and On-Ter Consult, the Grievance Redress Mechanism Consult engaged by the Federal Project Management Unit for Benue State ACReSAL. The meeting presented an avenue for the GRM Consult to inform the SPMU of their readiness to carry out the training of GRM Desk Officers in all the 23 LGAs of the state as well as SPMU on matters relating to GRM. Dr Mary Bishop, the representative of the consultants, informed the SPMU that they are fully prepared for the event and everything is set to make the training a success. Dr Mary Bishop stated that participants would be trained on how to treat concerns that people in communities may have on project activities in their area and this would include providing the right channels of communication for people to express their grievances and timely resolution to such concerns.
The SPC, Bldr. Victor Ama urged the consultants that during the training, they should emphasize the need for proper feedback and channels of communication to allow information to flow from the communities and back to the Project office. Bldr. Victor Ama also told the SPMU members to pay close attention during the training as every unit of the project has concerns that people from communities may seek redress and they should be willing to listen and seek ways of addressing each concern as they come up and also see themselves as ambassadors of the Project. The M & E Officer of the Project, Engr. Samson Naakaa enumerated the expected benefits of the GRM training and stated that this activity was very important to the success and sustainability of the project activities.
It is expected that at the end of the training, Participants will be acquainted with the GRM activities and Tools; Participants will be more acquainted with various roles and responsibilities of individuals towards the successful sustainability of the project; The performance of the SPMU evaluated, strength, and weaknesses will be identified, and suitable work approach be developed; Participants would be encouraged to harmonize plans and activities for better coordination; Participants will have a better knowledge of use of the GRM tools; Establish linkages between GRM and other Project Units; Create awareness with host communities.