The Green Climate Fund (GCF) – Grievance Redress Mechanism for projects funded by the GCF
N.B. This mechanism should not be used for emergency issues.
Grievance handling process for GCF-funded projects
Meridiam is implementing a comprehensive grievance redress mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability in addressing stakeholder concerns with regards to projects funded by the GCF. By establishing this mechanism, Meridiam demonstrates its dedication to ethical conduct and community well-being, ensuring that any issues arising from its GCF-funded projects and assets are promptly and fairly resolved. This approach reflects Meridiam’s core values of caring for the environment and concerned communities and maintaining high standards of operational integrity.
What are the eligibility criteria?
Who can submit a complaint?
- Any group of two or more individuals who are directly and adversely impacted by a GCF-funded project in the country where it is implemented.
- Individuals who are directly, materially, and adversely impacted by a GCF-funded project.
- Authorized representatives, local or non-local (in exceptional cases).
- Third parties acting on behalf of affected individuals.
Submissions can be made anonymously, in which case personal information will be encrypted.
What issues can be reported?
The grievance mechanism covers a wide range of concerns:
- Criminal Offences
Fraud, corruption, theft, money laundering, insider trading.
- Legal or Regulatory Breaches
Violations of laws, regulations, or Meridiam’s and/or GCF-funded project’s internal policies, breach of contract, non-compliance with human rights standards.
- Information Misconduct
Falsification, withholding, or manipulation of data.
- Labor and Compensation Issues
Unfair wages, unsafe working conditions, discrimination, harassment (sexual, verbal, psychological)
- Environmental, Social, and Community Impacts
Environmental damages (pollution, deforestation, etc.), health and safety risks, community tensions, displacement or loss of land/livelihood.
- Acute Danger
Urgent threats to public safety or the environment.
How to submit a complaint?
Complaints can be submitted through several channels.
Online Form below (secure and encrypted, available in English, French, Arabic)
The form will be automatically sent to Meridiam’s Compliance Team.
If you wish to download the form and send it yourself:
Meridiam’s Compliance Team : Complianceteam_EU@meridiam.com
Mail: 4 Place de l’Opéra, Paris 75002, France
Local Office: Submit the form below directly to the Meridiam resident office in your country.
In any case, you may choose to remain anonymous or request confidentiality.
What happens after a compliant is filed?
Once a complaint is received, an acknowledgment of receipt is sent within ten business days. The grievance is then reviewed by the Compliance Team to assess its validity, urgency, and relevance. If deemed eligible, the complaint is assigned to the appropriate team for investigation. This may involve interviews, site visits, document reviews, and consultations with legal or technical experts. Depending on the nature of the issue, Meridiam may respond directly, engage in joint resolution with the community, refer the matter to an independent third party, or apply culturally appropriate traditional practices. Once a resolution is identified, it is implemented and communicated to the complainant. The entire process is tracked through a digital system to ensure transparency and timely follow-up. Regular reports are shared with Meridiam’s management, and lessons learned from each case are used to improve the mechanism. Meridiam is committed to closing each eligible complaint with the most appropriate resolution within 45 calendar days of its submission, to the best of its ability.
Submission:
Complainant
- Submits complaint via online form, email, or any other channel as described above.
Acknowledgment:
- Grievance Officer: Receives grievances through multiple channels and logs them in the grievance system.
- Immediate confirmation: Sends acknowledgment to the complainant, detailing the next steps and expected timelines.
Screening & Assessment:
- Compliance Team: Reviews eligibility and urgency and assigns for investigation.
Investigation:
- Investigation Lead: Coordiates inteviews, document reviews, and site visits to collect evidence with the help of Independant Investigators or Legal Advisors, if needed.
Resolution:
- Grievance Committee: Reviews investigation reports, selects a resolution approach and approves recommended actions.
- Grievance Officer: Provides feedback to the complainant, detailing the outcome and actions taken.
Closure:
- Grievance Officer: Closes case, tracks outcome and reports to management.
Eligibility criteria
Eligible Complaints:
- Related to a GCF-funded project
- Within the scope of the mechanism
- Filed by an individual or group which complaint fulfills the eligibility criteria
Ineligible Complaints:
- Not related to a GCF-funded project
- Outside the scope of the mechanism
- Filed more than 2 years after project closure or awareness of impact
In some cases, complaints may be redirected to more appropriate mechanisms if the grievance falls outside the scope of this process.
GCF-Funded Project – Grievance Submission Form
Please use this form to submit a grievance related to a project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and managed by Meridiam. All information will be treated confidentially. While complaints to Meridiam cannot be submitted anonymously, the identity of the complainant will not be disclosed to the GCF-funded project.