The Sierra Leone Land Administration Project (SLLAP) has successfully completed the training of 820 Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Focal Persons across Gbakeh Loko and Maforki Chiefdoms in the Port Loko District. This initiative is a major step forward in ensuring transparency, accountability, and community participation in the ongoing land reform process.
The trained focal persons — 288 from Gbakeh Loko and 532 from Maforki — were selected from established land committees, with two representatives (one man and one woman) from each committee. This gender-balanced approach underscores the project’s commitment to inclusive participation in land governance.
The training focused on equipping participants with the necessary skills to receive, document, process, and transmit grievances arising during the implementation of project activities. Emphasis was placed on ensuring that grievances are handled in a timely, fair, and transparent manner, while maintaining confidentiality and respect for all parties involved.
Importantly, the sessions clarified that the GRM under SLLAP is specifically designed to address grievances directly related to project implementation, and not general land disputes or private matters. This distinction was made clear to manage expectations and streamline the complaint-handling process.
The training also served to popularize the project’s toll-free grievance hotline — 840, which allows community members to report concerns or seek clarification on project activities at no cost. Focal persons were trained on how to guide community members through the complaint process and escalate unresolved issues to higher levels within the GRM structure.
The sessions were led by the Social and Gender Specialist of the project, with technical support from the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Environmental Management Specialist, and Community Engagement and Communication Specialist.
“This training strengthens the community’s ability to engage meaningfully in the project while promoting accountability,” said the Social and Gender Specialist. “It also ensures that grievances are addressed constructively, helping to build trust in the land reform process.”
With the training now complete, the newly capacitated GRM focal persons are expected to serve as the first point of contact for grievance reporting at the community level. Their role will be critical in promoting social inclusion, transparency, and responsiveness throughout the land mapping and registration processes.
SLLAP remains committed to empowering communities and establishing fair and accessible mechanisms to resolve issues as the project continues to roll out across the country.
Leave a Reply