9 OCTOBER | 9:00 - 10:20 | Amalila Hall

From Form to Function: Strengthening Operational Grievance Mechanisms for Effective Remedy in Africa

Session partner:

Global Compact Network Kenya
Network of African National Human Rights Institutions
Danish Institute for Human Rights
Avocats Sans Frontières

Background

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) affirm the right of affected persons to access effective remedy. Across Africa, grievance redress mechanisms (GRMs) have often been implemented with a focus on policies, forms, and procedures, but without consistently delivering meaningful outcomes, preventing harm, or building trust.

This joint session is convened by the Global Compact Network Kenya (GCNK), the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) and Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF). The collaboration between these diverse actors—spanning policy experts, human rights institutions, civil society, and private sector practitioners—will unite complementary perspectives and lived experiences.

It will enrich the discussion with case studies from organizations operating OGMs in the agriculture sector (Kenya) and the extractives sector (Uganda and Tanzania), illustrating how mechanisms can evolve from formal structures into tools that deliver genuine outcomes. By blending real-world practice with policy and institutional expertise, the session will offer nuanced insights into how OGMs can provide trusted and timely remedies, foster stakeholder confidence, and meet the UNGP effectiveness criteria (Principle 31).

Key Objectives

Enhance understanding of the fundamentals of Operational Grievance Mechanisms (OGMs) and the UNGP effectiveness criteria (Principle 31).
Showcase how different industries are implementing OGMs through case studies from the agriculture sector (Kenya) and the extractives sector (Uganda and Tanzania), illustrating practical approaches and lessons learned.
Highlight the barriers and enablers to integrating OGMs with existing judicial and non-judicial mechanisms in Africa.
Discuss the role that each stakeholder—businesses, CSOs, Government Entities Including NHRIs, and communities—plays in strengthening OGMs and navigating restrictive operating environments.
Develop actionable, context-specific recommendations for African businesses, policymakers, and rights defenders to improve access to remedy.

Key Objectives

How can OGMs move from formal compliance to delivering meaningful, rights-based remedies?
What practical lessons can be drawn from agriculture and extractives sector case studies?
How can OGMs be effectively integrated with judicial and non-judicial mechanisms in Africa?
What roles should businesses, CSOs, government entities, including NHRIs, and communities play in strengthening OGMs?
How can OGMs be adapted to function effectively in restrictive operating environments?

Expected Outcomes

Improved understanding among participants of the core principles, effectiveness criteria, and practical design elements of OGMs that deliver genuine remedy.
Documented lessons and transferable practices from multi-sector case studies in agriculture and extractives.
Clear identification of barriers and enablers for integrating OGMs with existing judicial and non-judicial systems.
Enhanced capacity of businesses, CSOs, government entities including NHRIs, and communities to fulfil their respective roles in restrictive environments.
Actionable recommendations to strengthen access to remedy in line with the UNGP effectiveness criteria and emerging regulatory frameworks.

Background to the Discussion

The session responds to persistent gaps between the formal existence of grievance mechanisms and their actual ability to resolve issues, prevent harm, and build trust. While many African companies have adopted grievance procedures to align with the UNGPs, these mechanisms often fall short of meeting effectiveness criteria in practice.

By bringing together policy and institutional expertise with corporate and community-level experience, the session aims to equip stakeholders with practical knowledge on designing, implementing, and strengthening OGMs. Drawing from both the agriculture and extractives sectors, it will highlight challenges, solutions, and transferable practices to promote remedy that is timely, fair, and trusted.

Additional background documents

Improving Access to Remedy for Tanzania’s Extractive Sector

Kakuzi Operational Grievance Mechanism-Sikika