Grievance mechanisms are increasingly important for development projects where on-going risks or adverse impacts are anticipated. They serve as a way to meet requirements, prevent and address community concerns, reduce risk, and assist larger processes that create positive social change. Today, many companies employ ad hoc or exclusively internal processes to address grievances. Unfortunately, these systems often produce less than satisfactory outcomes from the perspective of the company and/or community. Recognizing this, and noting a lack of effective alternatives, companies and communities are becoming more proactive in their efforts to design and build more effective strategies for addressing community grievances.