The second meeting of the Advisory Board for Santiago Network for Loss and Damage (SNLD), which took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 4th July 2024, marked an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to fully operationalize the SNLD. The meeting was preceded by two days of informal consultations on the 2nd and 3rd of July 2024, during which the focus was on providing valuable guidance and inputs to the interim secretariat (host of the SNLD Secretariat) regarding the guidelines for the designation of organisations, bodies, networks, and experts (OBNEs) and the modalities for technical assistance. This short brief provides our key reflections on the outcomes of the meeting.
Our reflections on the key agenda items
The Advisory Board members, representatives, and observers discussed a number of agenda items including:
- Secretariat Recruitment
During the second meeting, the SNLD secretariat host provided the Advisory Board with an update on the recruitment process for the director of the Santiago network secretariat. While we acknowledge the progress made, it is crucial to expedite the selection of the director and staff for the permanent secretariat to ensure their timely appointment and swift initiation of work. The entire process must adhere to transparency and openness. It is also crucial to bear in mind that the SNLD secretariat operates independently from the host activities.
- Guidelines on preventing potential and addressing actual and perceived conflicts of interest
At the meeting, the UNFCCC secretariat provided guidelines on how to prevent conflicts of interest between Board members, host institutions, and OBNEs, in the aspect of delivering technical assistance. The Board provided feedback and will review a revised draft in the next meeting. We acknowledge the progress made and eagerly await the completion and adoption of the document by the third meeting of the Board in September.
- Rules of procedure of the Advisory Board
During the first meeting of the Advisory Board, a working group was established to develop the rules of procedure that would govern the Board’s work and to report on the progress made by the time of the second meeting. However, the draft of the rules of procedure was not finalised at the second meeting. It is expected that the final draft will be available on the UNFCCC secretariat’s webpage for the upcoming meeting. We anticipate the inclusion of strong rules of procedure outlining how youth observers will be allowed to participate in the work of the SNLD.
- Santiago Network’s indicative multi-year budget
The multiyear budget was presented but this was not the call of the Advisory Board members, however, the Advisory Board agreed to give feedback on the multi-year budget as it is an important document to translate pledges into contributions. The intersessional work on the multi-year budget will continue and it will be open at the next meeting aiming to approve it. It is important to note that the current mandate by the Advisory Board given at the Conference of Parties (COP) is for the approval of a one-year budget. We look forward to seeing those who have pledged to fulfil their commitments so that the SNLD can commence the technical assistance with adequate funding for the work.
- Guidelines for the designation of the OBNEs
Guidelines for designating OBNEs were approved. The document contains aspects of the benefits of being part of the network, expectations, and the roles of the OBNEs. It was agreed that the process of application for the designation of the OBNEs is to begin. These guidelines are crucial in enabling OBNEs to participate in the structure of the SNLD. We eagerly anticipate the application of youth organizations to join the Santiago network and be recognised as key partners in delivering technical assistance in their respective countries.
- Santiago network strategy and results framework
This is the document that contains elements such as mandate, mission, objectives, outputs, outcomes, and performance indicators for the SNLD activities. Although the document was developed without consulting the Advisory Board first, the Board provided their feedback, and as a result, the interim secretariat was requested to provide a revised document. They agreed to work on this further and discuss it during the upcoming third meeting. We anticipate that the revised document will be widely shared and will address all the key issues raised during the second meeting, particularly focusing on the use of COP decision language, among other important matters.
- Responding to technical assistance
The Advisory Board provided feedback on the draft guidelines for responding to requests for technical assistance, it was agreed that the interim secretariat will incorporate all the comments provided into the document and finalise it and be ready for adoption preferably before the third Board meeting. It was also agreed that the interim secretariat will organize one workshop in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and two workshops in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). We anticipate that the final document will be adopted, including the technical request template, which we believe will make it easier for the countries to apply for technical assistance. Additionally, the workshops must focus on identifying the technical assistance needs in SIDS and LDCs.
- Guidelines on managing funding
The draft guideline on managing funding for the SNLD was reviewed, and feedback was shared during the meeting. The Board agreed to provide written comments to update the draft, the revised document is expected to be adopted at the third meeting. It is crucial to ensure that the guidelines reflect elements such as reaching frontline communities, providing access to funding for SNLD activities, and ensuring transparency.
Next steps
Significant progress is anticipated in the approval of pending documents during the upcoming third meeting which will take place from 4 – 6 September in Bonn, Germany. These documents will offer essential guidance to developing countries and the OBNEs to facilitate their application for technical assistance. They will further establish the framework for the contribution and disbursement of pledged funding to support the overall work of the SNLD. Furthermore, it is important to note that the role of the loss and damage contact point on the national level is crucial, as this ensures that the technical assistance provided is demand-driven and maintains country ownership throughout the process. Lastly, we eagerly anticipate insights from the Board regarding their strategy to ensure that future Advisory Board meetings are hosted in developing countries, promoting inclusivity throughout this process.