The project implementation will involve various stakeholders including firms, lead coordinating agencies, MDAs, SMEs, communities, and individuals (outlined in the Stakeholder Engagement Plan). Citizens’ engagement will be at the core of the project with communities engaged at all stages of preparation and implementation. This is to facilitate public access to information on the project and its activities. It includes those who are aggrieved or believe they have been adversely affected by the project and may submit complaints and have their complaints addressed.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), and Sexual Harassment affects women and girls in Sierra Leone and it is envisaged that these and other issues may arise during project implementation. This concern led the Government of Sierra Leone to declare SEA/SH as a national emergency and stipulated that all government and government-assisted hospitals and medical centers should provide care free of charge to any SEA survivor. The complexity of the project, and the number of people who are expected to be part of the implementation process, have necessitated the establishment of a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). The Grievance Redress Mechanism enables project beneficiaries and the citizens of Sierra Leone to provide feedback on the project in general and on its specific activities. It is a process of receiving prompt, objective information, evaluation, and consideration of appeals (claims, suggestions, complaints, requests, feedback) related to all RUSLP project activities including issues related to any resettlement compliant.

The RUSLP requires a comprehensive project-wide GRM available for use by all project stakeholders including those, directly and indirectly, impacted, positively or negatively. The purpose of the GRM is to provide the project-affected persons the opportunity of a step-by-step process to seek redress. It will enable a broad range of stakeholders to channel their concerns, questions, and complaints to the various implementation agencies, through multiple grievance uptake channels. Essentially, the GRM will assist in resolving complaints and grievances in a timely, effective and efficient manner that satisfies all parties involved. It outlines a transparent and credible process for fair, effective, and lasting outcomes. Similarly, it builds trust and cooperation as an integral component of broader community consultation that facilitates corrective actions.