Akamatutu’anga To Tatou Ora’anga Meitaki (ATOM) Project
Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
What is the ATOM Project:
The Akamatutu’anga To Tatou Ora’anga Meitaki (ATOM): Building a Healthy and Resilient Cook Islands Community – one block at a time project was approved at the 38th Board Meeting (B.38) of the Green Climate Fund, held in Kigali, Rwanda, in March 2024.
The project is designed to strengthen climate resilience within the health sector in the Cook Islands. The ATOM project will support the upgrading of health facilities to better withstand the impacts of climate change, strengthen policies and institutional frameworks for climate resilience, and build national capacity to address climate-sensitive health risks. It will also improve the resilience of health services and communities across the Cook Islands, including the Pa Enua.
The project is implemented by Te Marae Ora and the Cook Islands Investment Corporation, with the Cook Islands Red Cross and the Ministry of Education supporting the implementation of some activities. Oversight of the project is provided by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM), which is the Accredited Entity to the Green Climate Fund.
Purpose of this mechanism.
This grievance mechanism provides affected communities and individuals with a clear, accessible and confidential process to raise concerns, complaints or issues related to the ATOM Project. This aims to ensure that all grievances are addressed promptly, fairly and transparently promoting trust, accountability and continuous improvement in the project implementation. This mechanism also safeguards the rights of community members including the vulnerable groups to a meaningful participation and dialogue.
Purpose of this mechanism.
This grievance mechanism provides affected communities and individuals with a clear, accessible and confidential process to raise concerns, complaints or issues related to the ATOM Project. This aims to ensure that all grievances are addressed promptly, fairly and transparently promoting trust, accountability and continuous improvement in the project implementation. This mechanism also safeguards the rights of community members including the vulnerable groups to a meaningful participation and dialogue.
We want to hear from you.
The ATOM Project, executed by Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health Cook Islands (TMO) and the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC), is committed to the highest standards of ethics, accountability, and transparency.
If you are affected by the ATOM project in any way or feel that something is not right, we encourage you to raise your concern with TMO/CIIC. You have the right to speak up, and we are here to listen and act.
This information explains how to report any grievance related to the ATOM Project.
If you experience or witness any harm, unfair treatment, or wrongdoing connected to this project, whether environmental, social, financial, technological or personal, you have the right to raise it. Your grievance will be handled confidentially, fairly, and without discrimination or any penalty to you. Formal grievances will be reviewed by the ATOM Project Management Unit, and depending on their severity and type, an independent panel may be formed to resolve them.
What can you report?
You can raise a grievance if you experience or witness:
- Unfair treatment or exclusion from project benefits
- Misconduct by project staff or contractors
- Delays, poor-quality services, or unmet expectations
- Fraud, corruption, or misuse of funds
- Environmental or social harm
- Sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment (SEAH)
- Unfair labour and working conditions
- Gender, racial, religious and other forms of discrimination
- Unsafe resource efficiency, pollution, or poor waste management
- Poor community health, safety and security
- Forced land acquisition, restrictions on land use and involuntary resettlement
- Threats to Biodiversity conservation and sustainability
- Exclusion of indigenous people and traditional local communities
- Lack of meaningful stakeholder engagement and inadequate information
- Any other issue affecting you or your community because of the project
What can you report?
You can raise a grievance if you experience or witness:
- Unfair treatment or exclusion from project benefits
- Misconduct by project staff or contractors
- Delays, poor-quality services, or unmet expectations
- Fraud, corruption, or misuse of funds
- Environmental or social harm
- Sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment (SEAH)
- Unfair labour and working conditions
- Gender, racial, religious and other forms of discrimination
- Unsafe resource efficiency, pollution, or poor waste management
- Poor community health, safety and security
- Forced land acquisition, restrictions on land use and involuntary resettlement
- Threats to Biodiversity conservation and sustainability
- Exclusion of indigenous people and traditional local communities
- Lack of meaningful stakeholder engagement and inadequate information
- Any other issue affecting you or your community because of the project
How to submit a grievance
There are several ways you can get in touch:
- Location: ATOM Project Management Unit (PMU) at the TMO Admin Office in Tupapa
- PMU Phone: +(682) 22664 ext 7117
- Akamatutu'anga To Tatou Ora’anga Meitaki Online Form
- CIIC Phone: Asset Development office direct line, (+682) 23-139 or CIIC main line 29-391 ext 6820
- Email: Send your concern to tmo.helpdesk@cookislands.gov.ck
- Location: Tupapa Road, Avarua, Rarotonga
Contact PTI
- Contact PTI: 21 133 or CALL or TEXT OUR 24/7 FREE LINE, 0800 SAFE (0800 7233)
- Email: support@pticooks.org
- Location: Tupapa Road, Avarua, Rarotonga
- Punanga Turuturu Itivaine, Cook Islands Womens Support Centre
Primary contact for Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) related matters under the ATOM Project
Note: PTI operates under a survivor-centred approach. Your safety, confidentiality, and informed consent are of highest priority
What happens next?
Need more help or not satisfied?
If you feel your grievance hasn’t been properly addressed, you can escalate it to:
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (MFEM)
MFEM Grievance Redress Mechanism: This will trigger review under MFEM’s institutional GRM. As the Accredited Entity, MFEM will conduct further review and follow-up in line with its Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework, GRM policy and External Communications Procedure.
- Email: DevelopmentCoordination DivisionDCD@cookislands.gov.ck
- Website: MFEM
- Phone: +(682) 29511 and ask for the GCF Manager
- Address / Location: Takuvaine Road, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
- Postal: PO Box 120 Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Green Climate Fund
GCF Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM): You have the right to bring your grievance directly to the GCF if satisfaction is not achieved at the MFEM level.
The IRM is an independent body that handles complaints related to GCF-funded projects.
Please note that the local grievance process needs to be fulfilled before the GCF IRM.
- Website: Green Climate Fund
- Email: irm@gcfund.org
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (MFEM)
MFEM Grievance Redress Mechanism: This will trigger review under MFEM’s institutional GRM. As the Accredited Entity, MFEM will conduct further review and follow-up in line with its Environmental and Social Safeguard Framework, GRM policy and External Communications Procedure.
- Email: DevelopmentCoordinationDivisionDCD@cookislands.gov.ck
- Website: MFEM
- Phone: +(682) 29511 and ask for the GCF Manager
- Address / Location: Takuvaine Road, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
- Postal: PO Box 120 Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Green Climate Fund
GCF Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM): You have the right to bring your grievance directly to the GCF if satisfaction is not achieved at the MFEM level.
The IRM is an independent body that handles complaints related to GCF-funded projects.
Please note that the local grievance process needs to be fulfilled before the GCF IRM.
- Website: Green Climate Fund
- Email: irm@gcfund.org
Your rights are protected.
You have the right to raise concerns without fear. The ATOM Project has a strict no-retaliation policy. Your information will be handled confidentially and securely.
The Project Management Unit.
To help coordinate implementation, there is a Project Management Unit (PMU) managed by Akairo Consulting. The members of the PMU are Ana Tiraa (Project Manager), Boyd Ellison (Finance and Procurement), and Meri-ana Baker (Finance Officer). Dr Christina Newport provides advice and oversight to the PMU.
Contact Us
ATOM Project Management Unit
- Phone: +(682) 22664 Ext 7117
- Email: tmo.helpdesk@cookislands.gov.ck
- Location: Rarotonga, Tupapa, Te Marae Ora Administration office
