Exploring the drivers of gendered grievance mechanisms: examples from the agribusiness, extractive and wind power sectors in Kenya

Abstract

In accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) businesses should establish or participate in legitimate remediation mechanisms for individuals and communities who may suffer adverse human rights impacts associated with their activities. Understanding the negative impacts of business operations on women is important for focussed prevention and response interventions. This paper considers the uptake by businesses in Kenya’s agribusiness, extractive and wind sectors in setting up operational-level grievance mechanisms (OGMs) to address gendered community-related grievances. While we do not assess the efficacy of such mechanisms, our research examines the negative impacts of eight projects on female community members. We argue that companies should establish gender-responsive OGMs as a first step towards better understanding and addressing their impacts on all members of affected communities. We found that the agribusiness companies had not established OGMs, while those from the extractive and wind power sectors had. We explore the role of external pressure as a possible contributing factor to this difference and briefly assess if existing law requires companies to establish such mechanisms.