Technical online briefing on the process and existing status of the selection of the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage (Santiago network) host secretariat,

 

Please join us for a technical online briefing on the process and existing status of the selection of the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage (Santiago network) host secretariat, and an avenue to ask the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat technical questions.  

Date and time: 24th of October 2023 GMT 13:00 - 14:00

Registration: LINK

The SNLD was created by the Conference of Parties under the Paris Agreement, to catalyse the technical assistance of relevant organisations, bodies, networks and experts, for the implementation of relevant approaches for averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage at the local, national and regional levels, at countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. 

The selection of the host secretariat of the Santiago network is currently under process. 

The two proponents are the coalition of UNDRR-UNPOS and the Caribbean Development Bank (CBD). The executive summaries contained in the submitted proposals are available here.

The report of the evaluation panel on the hosting of the Santiago network secretariat is very informative and can be accessed here.

This is a three-step briefing and consultation process, for stakeholders, regarding the selection of the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage (Santiago network) host secretariat. This first step is a technical briefing by the UNFCC. After this webinar, we will discuss between stakeholders, and assess interests and alignment of collective engagement, recommendations and/or positions regarding the SNLD host secretariat selection. 

Background

The Conference of Parties established the Santiago network as part of the Warsaw International

Mechanism (WIM) in the year 2019. The vision of the Santiago network is to catalyse the

technical assistance of relevant organisations, bodies, networks and experts, for the

implementation of relevant approaches for averting, minimising and addressing loss and

damage at the local, national and regional levels, at countries that are particularly vulnerable to

the adverse effects of climate change.

The meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) decided that the Santiago network will have the following structure:

• A hosted secretariat that will facilitate its work, to be known as the Santiago network
• secretariat;
• An Advisory Board to provide guidance and oversight to the Santiago network secretariat on the effective implementation of the functions of the network;
• A network of member organisations, bodies, networks and experts covering a wide range of topics relevant to averting, minimising and addressing loss and damage.

Following a call for proposals to serve as host agency issued by the UNFCCC secretariat on 31

December 2022, two proponents submitted proposals – 

1. the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and
2. the United Nations consortium composed of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). 

An evaluation panel was established to assess the two proposals based on the evaluation criteria.

Informal events and consultations were held during the 58th session of the UNFCCC’s

Subsidiary Bodies (SB58), among the parties, with the intention to select one of the two host

proposals. The proponents did respond to questions and comments by the parties, orally and in

written text. The SBs were mandated to prepare a draft decision for the consideration of the

COP and CMA at COP28 in Dubai to approve the selection of the host agency secretariat.

No draft decision was generated due to no consensus being reached. The intention is to decide

the upcoming COP28. Informal negotiations and discussions are currently ongoing, and the

topic can be expected to also be discussed during the upcoming WIM Executive Committee

(ExCom) meeting.

Objectives

1.  Enhance the knowledge and understanding among non-state stakeholders in regard to the connotation of the two proponents to host the Santiago network.
2. Provide a space for non-state stakeholders to ask the proponents questions regarding their existing application to host the Santiago network.
3. Provide a space for the two proponents to learn from recommendations and knowledge of non-state stakeholders, in regards to the operationalisation of the Santiago network.
4. Provide a space for discussion between stakeholders regarding potential collective engagement within the process of selecting the Santiago network host secretariat

Best regards, 

Moa Herrgård & Jamie Cummings