AKIPRESS.COM - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) briefed over 50 Tajikistan project staff, government officials and civil society representatives last week on social safeguard compliance in ADB-financed projects, focusing on the grievance redress mechanism, the Bank said in a release today.

The grievance redress mechanism is used to identify, mitigate and respond to unintended project impacts on individuals, ensure respect of the affected parties’ rights, and increase the likelihood that project implementation proceeds without undue delay or complications.

During the seminar last week, participants, who are members of grievance redress committees in different regions, learned how to handle project complaints at project level, and to promote community involvement during project implementation.

“From time to time, project implementation can raise questions and create concerns, be it compensation for the relocation of homes, or threats to long-standing cultural norms,” said C.C. Yu, ADB’s Country Director for Tajikistan. “The grievance redress mechanism specifically seeks to address such concerns and ensure compliance at the project level before they escalate and greater harm is done.”

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998 and, to date, ADB has approved total assistance of around $1.3 billion in concessional loans, grants, and technical assistance to the country. The ADB-Tajikistan partnership has promoted social development, upgraded and built new infrastructure, expanded agricultural production, and encouraged regional cooperation and trade under the CAREC Program.

ADB, based in Manila, dedicates itself to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the Asia-Pacific region.