Save the Children International (SCI) has commenced training for Members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and third-party monitoring Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRMs) for social protection programs.
The 5-Day capacity training funded by UKaid sees CSOs of the Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC) and the Zamfara Social Protection Platform (ZSPP), respectively.
According to the Advocacy and Communication Coordinator for the ESPID programme in Zamfara state, Nura Muhammed Abdullahi, Grievance redress is an essential element of managing a targeted programme, particularly when cash is involved. Hence, a crucial platform in mitigating inclusion and exclusion errors and for monitoring corruption.
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He said, “we are here as part of our activities to build the capacity of our CSOs on issues of rigorous and redress mechanism, and also complain mechanism monitoring
The CSOs need to have the capacity to be able to influence Gov’t through advocacy, lobbying to make sure that these programs are accountable, and also we want to see the creation of awareness into our communities on the importance of having GRM on our social protection Programs”.
He explained that SCI priority is to make the government of these states see the need for the importance of GRM mechanism, one which is the source of accountability In the implementation of social protection programs.
He noted that the application would speak to the outputs and outcome, explaining it is their goal to reduce the multi-dimension of poverty that is affecting people due to Insecurity, as well other Natural and Man-made Disasters.
“We want to make sure that the government is doing the right thing by giving the right people and the package have been given to the right beneficiaries, and we believe that CSOs are like gatekeepers, people who will push and make sure that this happens. That is why we are here today. About 50 participants, Zamfara and Kaduna, state, respectively,”.
Speaking on the objectives, Social Inclusion Officer, SCI Kaduna Office, Mrs Eunice Victor said, it is to strengthen accountability Mechanism towards effective civil society and citizens’ engagement on planning, M and E and budgeting process for SP in Kaduna and Zamfara state.
Similarly, she explained that the capacity is to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to advocate for increased accountability through budget tracking and analysis and build the ability of CSOs to mobilise citizens to utilise the GRM process.
