We strongly believe that biodiversity conservation can only function if it benefits all people. We want to ensure that any individual, group or community who feels that they have been negatively affected by FZS’ conservation initiatives have the right to officially submit a grievance and seek it being redressed.

FZS ensures that grievances are handled, responded to, and documented fairly and promptly. We aim to provide stakeholders, individuals, and communities with the assurance that they will be heard in a timely and consistent manner and have all grievances addressed.

We will review all grievances to understand whether a potential breach of FZS’ social safeguards, principles, standards, or procedures has occurred.

Our goal is to resolve complaints quickly and directly. We will involve concerned local FZS programs and the Global Social Safeguards Coordinator to address them.

Any community, organisation, project stakeholder or affected group that believes it may be negatively affected by FZS’ work may submit a complaint. Representatives can submit a complaint on behalf of a community, project stakeholder or affected group.

If confidentiality is requested, FZS will use its best efforts to maintain the anonymity of the complainant, but an investigation may result in the identification of the complainant. Allegations made anonymously may not be considered in the same manner, or with the same importance, as those made with attribution due to the inherent difficulty of substantiating facts and the potential for abuse.

The grievance will be addressed through an open and transparent process so that the complainant and FZS may find a suitable redress. You will be treated with confidentiality and protected from retaliation.