Feature post by By Sarah Travis

(Le français suit)

Sustainable practices and environment and climate action are essential to the TAP-EDM project. As the Environment and Climate Action (ECA) Advisor for the Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) project, the question of the project’s environmental impact is one Wit Siemieniuk is familiar with. He identifies two ways the TAP project will monitor environment and climate impacts and maintain sustainable practices – by being involved in the process and being a leader in environmental action.

Sustainable practices and environment and climate action are essential to the TAP-EDM project, which is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and implemented by Alinea International. Siemieniuk shares that although ECA isn’t the primary goal of the TAP-EDM project, it remains a cross-cutting theme that aligns with two driving forces of the project: the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), which both have mutual objectives of eradicating poverty and making the world a more peaceful and inclusive place for everyone.

Once an approved request for technical assistance is received from GAC and a National Government Entity in a partner country, Wit, along with others on the TAP team, will assess the technical assistance initiative (TAI) to ensure there is a plan in place for ECA and determine if ECA is a primary or secondary goal of the TAI. This will ensure minimal negative environmental impacts during the project. The TAP team is involved in the screening process to ensure Canadian Experts brought into TAP-EDM understand ECA and the role it plays in the project. The TAP team will continue to be involved and offer support throughout the TAI, creating terms of reference for the Canadian Expert to integrate into their work plan, and will offer feedback from an ECA lens to their work plan. By being actively involved throughout every step of the project, we create a standard expectation for the TAP project to be environmentally aware and ensures sustainable practices are kept in their work towards the goals of SDG and FIAP.

The TAP team thrives to become a sustainable leader of environmentally friendly and sustainable practices for Canadian experts to undertake in their work and share with their partners as they travel to their partner country. Canadian Experts will receive guides on how to be sustainable travellers and will be encouraged to minimize their footprint while the TAP team ensures their contribution to the project is also meeting ECA goals, such as offsetting carbon emissions from the experts’ flights and ensuring their hotel accommodations have sustainable practices.

By maintaining sustainable practices and prioritizing environment and climate action, TAP will continue to align its team and work with the priorities of the SDGs and FIAP, working together with its team of experts, government entities, and partner countries to create a thriving world of opportunity and equality.

L’action environnementale et climatique au sein du PAT-MDE

Les pratiques durables et l’action environnementale et climatique font partie intégrante du projet de PAT-MDE.Wit Siemieniuk, le conseiller en action environnementale et climatique du projet de Partenariat d’assistance technique (PAT), est bien au fait des impacts environnementaux du projet. Comme il le dit si bien, le projet de PAT contribue au contrôle des impacts environnementaux et climatiques et à la mise en place de pratiques durables de deux façons : en participant à toutes les étapes du processus et en donnant l’exemple en matière d’action climatique.

Les pratiques durables et l’action environnementale et climatique font partie intégrante du projet de PAT-MDE financé par Affaires mondiales Canada (AMC) et mis en œuvre par Alinea International. Pour Wit, même si l’action environnementale et climatique n’est pas le but premier du projet de PAT-MDE, il s’agit tout de même d’un thème transversal majeur. Un thème aligné aux deux sources d’inspiration du projet, à savoir les objectifs de développement durable (ODD) de l’ONU et la Politique d’aide internationale féministe (PAIF) du Canada. Or, les ODD et la PAIF partagent les mêmes objectifs : éradiquer la pauvreté, contribuer à la paix dans le monde et garantir l’inclusion et l’égalité des chances.

Dès qu’AMC et un organisme gouvernemental d’un pays partenaire entérinent une demande d’assistance technique, Wit et d’autres membres de l’équipe du PAT évaluent l’initiative d’assistance technique (IAT) pour s’assurer de la présence d’un plan d’action environnementale et climatique et déterminer si cette action est un objectif principal ou secondaire de l’IAT. Cette démarche sert à limiter les impacts environnementaux négatifs du projet. L’équipe du PAT participe également à la présélection afin que les experts canadiens du PAT-MDE comprennent bien l’action environnementale et climatique et le rôle de cette dernière au sein du projet. L’équipe du PAT, qui reste présente tout au long de l’IAT, détermine les paramètres que les experts canadiens doivent intégrer à leur plan de travail et commente ce dernier à la lumière du thème transversal de l’action environnementale et climatique. En participant activement à toutes les étapes du projet, l’équipe clarifie les attentes minimales en matière de respect de l’environnement et veille à l’adoption de pratiques durables en vue de concrétiser les priorités des ODD et de la PAIF.

L’équipe du PAT s’efforce d’être un chef de file en matière de pratiques durables et respectueuses de l’environnement et d’aider les experts canadiens à effectuer leur travail et à partager leur expertise avec leurs partenaires sur le terrain. Les experts canadiens recevront de l’information sur l’art et la manière de voyager de façon durable et seront encouragés à minimiser leur empreinte écologique. De son côté, l’équipe du PAT veillera à ce que leur contribution au projet réponde aux objectifs en matière d’action environnementale et climatique, notamment en compensant les émissions de carbone de leurs déplacements en avion et en choisissant des hôtels reconnus pour leurs pratiques durables.

En adoptant des pratiques durables et en priorisant l’action environnementale et climatique, l’équipe du PAT pose un autre geste concret pour aligner son travail aux priorités des ODD et de la PAIF, le tout de concert avec son équipe d’experts, les organismes gouvernementaux et ses partenaires sur le terrain et dans le but ultime de bâtir un monde égalitaire et débordant de perspectives nouvelles.

alinea’s whistleblower policy

1.1 Purpose

The following Whistleblower Policy has been established to provide guidance to Alinea International employees and sub-contractors on how to deal with known or suspected improper conduct within the organization. The objectives of this Policy are to:

Create awareness of the Policy and available whistleblower protections
Act as a reference guide to potential whistleblowers wishing to make a disclosure
Define the structure of the whistleblower system, including reporting and investigation procedures, whistleblower protections, and confidentiality, among others
Improve the communication and transparency in the processes associated with whistleblowing and assure protection against derogatory consequences, namely reprisals and detrimental action
Complement the current communication channels between employees, sub-contractors and immediate managers, and hierarchical channels flowing to the President and Senior Management team
Provide guidance to all parties involved in either whistleblowing or whistleblower protection.

1.2 Scope

Alinea requires all employees and sub-contractors to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. All employees and sub-contractors of Alinea are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations of Canada and the countries where we operate. Any allegations of known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy, and reasonable steps will be taken to protect those who come forward with allegations. Alinea’s Whistleblower Policy covers both internal and external whistleblowing, and establishes the controls and procedures for dealing with allegations of malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is intended to encourage employees and sub-contractors to report known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources and to enable Alinea’s Senior Management team to address and correct inappropriate action. It is the responsibility of all Board of Directors’ members, the Senior Management team, employees and sub-contractors to report concerns about known or suspected malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is applicable to all employees and sub-contractors of Alinea International.

1.3 Reporting Procedures

Alinea recognizes the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. Our internal controls and operating procedures are intended to detect and prevent malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. As detailed in Alinea’s Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals, employees and sub-contractors are encouraged to share complaints and/or concerns regarding ethical or legal violations with their immediate managers. If the employee or sub-contractor is not comfortable speaking with their immediate manager or is not satisfied with the response, they are encouraged to speak with the Gatineau or Calgary Office Managers, the Vice Presidents or, as required, the Chief Financial Officer. All members of the Senior Management team are required to report complaints and/or concerns about suspected ethical or legal violations in writing to Alinea’s Ethics Committee who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints and/or concerns. In the event that the complaint and/or concern is about the President, it should be raised by the employee or sub-contractor to their immediate manager or the Ethics Committee who will determine how the investigation will proceed. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Alinea’s Ethics Committee is responsible for acknowledging receipt of the suspected violation and notifying the whistleblower of the outcome of the investigation. Anyone filing a written complaint concerning suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Personal grievances or complaints related to employment are not covered under Alinea’s Whistleblowing Policy. For cases such as this, employees and sub-contractors are advised to first refer to Alineas Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals when considering a disclosure under the Whistleblowing Policy. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

1.4 Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to ensure reprisals are not made against the whistleblower. Alinea is committed to safeguarding the identity of the whistleblower and to protecting the whistleblower against detrimental action taken in reprisal for allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. The Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected from direct and indirect detrimental action, and that the culture of the workplace is supportive of suspected allegations being made. Any employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

1.5 Review

Alinea is committed to implementing ‘best practice’ policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources (as defined by this Policy) and the management and protection of whistleblowers making allegation(s). This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the objectives of relevant legislation and remains effective for Alinea, and may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For allegations of fraud, securities law, or human rights concerns, or when you are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the Company’s open door policy, individuals should contact the Company’s Ethics Committee directly.

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Environment and Climate Action in TAP-EDM Project