After almost 1.5 years of safeguards implementation in the Makira Masoala legacy landscape, there has been significant progress in advancing the environmental and social action plan (ESAP) measures to enhance provisions for environmental and social safeguards. As of May 2025, 24% of the measures have been implemented, 43% are well underway, 28% have been initiated, and 4% have not been started.
Grievance redress mechanism
- The GRM Manual has been updated through a participatory process with local communities. Added channels for submission of future grievances include, in line with communities’ preferences, a toll-free number, a complaints box and the use of sealed letters to ensure confidentiality.
- The nomination of community focal points to facilitate the collection and communication of grievances, as well as the organization of grievance resolution missions, is ongoing.
- Grievance resolution missions for previously received yet unresolved grievances are ongoing through a participatory process with communities.
- WCS also implemented a grievance database via the software Asana to facilitate tracking resolved and unresolved grievances.
- A grievance data management officer has been hired.
- Training and capacity building sessions on the grievance mechanism have taken place for Makira and Masoala staff and stakeholders.
Human rights and law enforcement
- A security risk assessment related to law enforcement has been carried out. The outcomes of this assessment include a security management plan, several specific standard operating procedures (e.g., on fire management, community patrols, health of personnel in isolated sites, stress and trauma management), and risk management tools (e.g. list of materials for risk management, protocol for sanitary crises, visitor’s guide, etc.) that are being incorporated into WCS procedures.
- Human rights training sessions have been held for rangers, judicial police officers and gendarmes.
Occupational health and safety
- A health and security risk assessment has been undertaken for the landscape.
- The emergency response plan has been updated, and a security management plan has been developed.
- Standard operating procedures (SOP) have been developed, including on fire management, vehicle maintenance, weather management, community patrols, operational security and conflict resolution.
- An internal grievance redress mechanism (GRM) for personnel and partners has been established.
Gender equity
- A gender analysis and action plan are being implemented.
- Specific gender action plans have been developed by each internal department.
- Training on protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH) has been undertaken by personnel and partners.
- A training-of-trainers on ‘positive masculinity’ is ongoing.
- The grievance mechanism was designed in a gender-inclusive way by working with two women focal points contributing to gender empowerment and incorporating a victim-centered approach.
Access restriction mitigation and livelihood support
- Previously received yet unresolved claims related to outstanding access restriction mitigation measures are being resolved through the grievance redress mechanism.
- The income-generating activities (IGAs) and value chains team have expanded in both human and financial resources. Additional fundraising efforts are ongoing to further scale up the number of IGAs and communities reached, including through REDD+ financing.
- A gender action plan for livelihood projects has been developed.
- Beneficiary selection criteria have been developed for participation in livelihood activities to ensure the inclusion and prioritization of vulnerable groups including women, youth and the economically vulnerable.
- Village savings and loan associations are in the process of being created.