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HAP - Steps To Establish CRM

This document outlines the 12 steps and associated indicators for establishing an effective Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) to ensure humanitarian organizations are accountable to the beneficiaries of their work. The steps include consulting beneficiaries on appropriate complaint methods, establishing clear policies and training staff, informing beneficiaries about how to submit complaints, properly acknowledging, investigating and responding to complaints, allowing appeals, incorporating feedback to improve projects, and regularly evaluating and updating the CRM based on lessons learned.

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Abraham Lebeza
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49 views2 pages

HAP - Steps To Establish CRM

This document outlines the 12 steps and associated indicators for establishing an effective Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) to ensure humanitarian organizations are accountable to the beneficiaries of their work. The steps include consulting beneficiaries on appropriate complaint methods, establishing clear policies and training staff, informing beneficiaries about how to submit complaints, properly acknowledging, investigating and responding to complaints, allowing appeals, incorporating feedback to improve projects, and regularly evaluating and updating the CRM based on lessons learned.

Uploaded by

Abraham Lebeza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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“making humanitarian action accountable to beneficiaries”

The steps and indicators of a


Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM)
Steps:
1. Establishment of a CRM is supported by senior management, and appropriate
resources, including human, are devoted to this purpose
Indicators:
a. Field staff are aware of the commitment from senior managers to increase
accountability.
b. Staff responsible for handling complaints have dedicated time available to do
so.

2. Beneficiaries, host communities and other stakeholders are consulted regarding


appropriate ways to make complaints
a. Young people said they wanted to be able to submit complaints by sms and
women told female staff that there are things they wouldn’t feel comfortable
about telling their male community representatives to pass on.
b. Field staff learnt that some beneficiaries would feel offended if information
regarding the mechanism was to be communicated mainly in pictures.

3. The organisation finalises its complaints handling policy and procedures


a. The complaints-handling mechanism specifies how the safety of the
complainant and confidentiality of the complaint are secured and there are clear
procedures in place to address allegations of abuse.
b. There is documentation outlining the purpose and limitations of the mechanism,
what constitutes a valid complaint, and the step-by-step procedures, including
complaints about exploitation and abuse by aid workers.

4. Staff are trained in the processes and procedures


a. Field staff understands why they have a CRM and how it works.
b. There is expertise to investigate allegations of abuse, including sexual abuse
and corruption.

5. Beneficiaries, host communities and other stakeholders are informed as to how


to go about making a complaint
a. The number and nature of complaints received shows that beneficiaries
understand how to use the system.
b. The organisation has information regarding the CRM available in a number of
locations and in a number of languages and ensures that field officers explain it
verbally to community groups at regular intervals.

6. Complaints are submitted


a. The number of complaints received by the organisation clearly increases after
the mechanism is introduced.
b. The organisation receives complaints through a number of channels, including
written complaints in a box, face-to-face reports, and emails.

HAP International is registered as a not for profit Association in Switzerland

MIE2 Chemin de Balexert 7&9, Ch-1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland, (tel) +41 22 788 1641,
(fax) +41 22 797 3861, [email protected], www.hapinternational.org
2

7. Complainants are acknowledged


a. The CRM file has copies of the receipts given to complainants, with information
as to how long a response should take.
b. Beneficiaries who make a complaint hear that their complaint was received and
know when they will hear further.

8. Complaints are reviewed and investigated


a. The organisation has clear documentary evidence of pending and processed
complaints.
b. The people responsible get to the complaints inbox within the time frame stated
in the policy.

9. Response is given
a. The CRM file has evidence that complainants received a response.
b. Beneficiaries who have made a complaint will be able to tell you that they know
the outcome.

10. The complainant may appeal the decision


a. The fact that some complainants appeal the decision shows that people know
how to, and that the system has the required integrity to allow for that.
b. Mrs B wasn’t happy with the outcome so the field officer facilitated her speaking
to the person responsible at the regional headquarters.

11. Information from complaints is continuously fed into project improvement


a. Staff are aware of what they and the organisation have learnt along the way as
a result of the CRM and can give examples of what changed.
b. Documentary evidence supports the fact that projects have been improved by
the feedback received through the CRM.

12. The CRM is evaluated and adjusted according to lessons learnt


a. There is documentary evidence that the organisation has formally reviewed the
effectiveness of its CRM and that changes were made.
b. The organisation discovered that the community committee they had chosen as
one entry point for complaints was discouraging complaints from some people.
It was decided to both work with the committee members to improve their
understanding of the role and use an additional entry point suggested by
beneficiaries consulted.

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