Support to the development of Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) for SYMBIOTIC partners in Ethiopia, Kenya and Madagascar and of a GBV handling note

As part of the SYMBIOTIC programme’s preparation phase, AAE has been engaged to support three country organisations in the design and operationalisation of simple, effective, and context-appropriate Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs). This short-term consultancy builds directly on the foundational GRM training delivered during the SYMBIOTIC partners’ workshop in Nairobi in February 2025, and seeks to strengthen organisational safeguards, accountability, and alignment with IKI requirements and good international practice.

The consultancy focuses on enabling each partner organisation to establish a functional and proportionate GRM that is clearly linked to the overarching SYMBIOTIC programme-level mechanism. Particular attention is given to ensuring that these systems can safely and appropriately manage reports related to gender-based violence (GBV), drawing on high-quality international guidance such as the IUCN GBV toolkit. Through a combination of joint virtual sessions and organisation-specific engagements, the team will clarify minimum GRM standards, review existing structures, define internal roles, and co-create practical steps for implementation.

Key outputs of this assignment include a shared understanding of GRM purpose and principles; a practical general GRM Guideline adaptable by all organisations; three partner-tailored Action Plans detailing the pathway to operationalisation; and a concise GBV handling note outlining referral pathways and essential resources. Collectively, these deliverables aim to ensure that each partner is equipped to manage concerns transparently, consistently, and in line with international expectations, contributing to a stronger and more accountable SYMBIOTIC partnership.