Throughout International Development Week, we are tracking progress on environmental sustainability by our projects around the world. From the Caribbean to Africa and Latin America, here is how four Alinea Project Directors are innovating to ensure their projects contribute to achieving SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Question: Of the many activities undertaken by your project on climate action, what stands out to you as a key contribution towards achieving SDG 13? Why?

Wit Siemieniuk, Project Director, Disaster Recovery Rapid Response Plan for Overseas Territories Project – Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office through the Conflict, Stability & Security Fund

Climate change on a global scale can be difficult to grasp. However, the consequences of climate-related disasters, when they affect us as individuals, are easy to understand. Through this project, which covers six Caribbean islands, we provide the skills and resources necessary to restore infrastructure (roads, airports, ports and telecommunications) and utilities (power and water) to facilitate delivery of relief efforts, minimize disruptions to health services and support the vulnerable. By working towards SDG 13, we proactively minimize the adverse impacts of climate change, while recognizing the need to be able to respond to climate-related disasters when they occur. Planning for the worst while hoping for the best, a fundamental principle of disaster planning, also applies to a proactive approach to climate action through national strategy development, education and awareness raising.

Rick Sunstrum, Project Director, SMIS: Small Scale & Micro Irrigation Support in Ethiopia Project – Funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Global Affairs Canada

To combat climate change and its impacts in Ethiopia, we focused on implementing on-farm water management plans, as well as soil and water conservation plans in 49 SMIS pilot irrigation schemes. This initiative reduced drainage problems caused by heavy rainfall by 65 per cent, as well as associated flood damage to irrigation infrastructure and arable farmland. We also reduced waterlogging of schemes from 70 per cent to less than 20 per cent, and soil erosion due to heavy rainfall and cultivation of fields with steep slopes from 60 per cent to 18 per cent. We also saw increased use of Integrated Pest Management techniques among farmers, which is a core element of sustainable agriculture.

Shantel Jordison, Project Director, Comunica: Building Extractive Sector Governance in Colombia Project – Funded by Global Affairs Canada

Comunica approaches natural resource management through an environmentally sustainable framework, with a key contribution towards achieving SDG 13 being an improvement to transparent and evidence-based decision making within key government institutions. This supports better climate and environmental outcomes in Colombia. A powerful example is Comunica’s partnership with the Colombian Ministry of Mines and National Mining Agency to develop and implement the country’s first-ever Integrated Mining Management System, AnnA Mineria. Sustainability is at the heart of AnnA Mineria. This system empowers decision makers to digitally set and restrict the issuance of mine titles in environmentally sensitive areas, thus conserving thousands of hectares of Colombia’s Amazon rainforest – what many call the “lungs of the planet.”

Brian Fawcett, Project Director, Climate Smart-PSNP: Technical Assistance to Support Global Climate Change Alliance Plus/Mainstreaming of Climate Smart Planning and Implementation Approaches into the Productive Safety Net Program IV in Ethiopia – Funded by the European Commission

Through the Climate Smart-PSNP, we are providing technical assistance to the Government of Ethiopia to mainstream climate-smart approaches across public works and natural resource management agencies and to quantify the carbon sequestration benefits generated by PSNP through community based participatory watershed and rangeland management interventions. A critical challenge is ensuring that annual safety net plans for Ethiopian communities address both environmental vulnerability and community needs, so we introduced comprehensive Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments as a tool to strengthen climate resilient planning at the regional, district and community levels. Using Community Based Participatory Watershed Development and Pastoral Public Works guidelines, the grassroots level is now leading decision-making and planning to combat climate change and its impact across Ethiopia.

In the year ahead, we look forward to implementing innovative solutions to climate change adaptation and mitigation. This may be climate-resilient urban planning and infrastructure to prepare for climate-induced migration, or irrigated agriculture as a gender-transformative approach to climate change adaptation. We also see opportunities for Canadian Climate Finance investments in under resourced climate change sectors where Canada can have the greatest impact, such as precision agriculture, nature based solutions, solar energy, bio-fuels and more. Canada is a global leader in many fields related to climate action and has an opportunity to adapt existing products, technologies and innovations to meet climate change needs around the world. Alinea is pleased to be contributing to Canada’s momentum on climate action.

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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IDW2021: Climate Action Q&A with Alinea Project Directors