INTRODUCTION
The Santiago Network occupies a distinct and indispensable position within the UNFCCC loss and damage architecture. It is the mechanism for catalyzing technical assistance from Organizations, Bodies, Networks, and Expertise (OBNEs) to developing countries to avert, minimize, and address loss and damage. The network is the operational component of the second function of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM), ensuring technical access to expertise for developing countries to design fit-for-purpose approaches to address loss and damage. The network has an independent secretariat hosted by UNDRR and UNOPS, headquartered in Geneva. It is governed by an Advisory Body that meets at least three times a year to guide the overall direction of the network’s operations. The Santiago Network Advisory Board (SNAB) reports annually to the COP and CMA, the governing bodies of the WIM. From March 24th to March 26th, the sixth board meeting will take place, with registered observers able to attend either in person or online
LDYC welcomes the progress achieved by the SN secretariat and its board since its establishement, namely the the selection of UNDRR and UNOPS to host the independent secretariat, approval of the technical assistance request guidelines, approval of the guideline for the OBNEs to be part of the network, the matchmaking of the technical assistance (TA) request, the approval of the SN strategy, the approval of the SN resource mobilisation, the approval of the regional desks, contact points and guidelines for the SN liaison, to name a few.
Based on the outcome of the WIM review at COP30, as well as the unique value of the network within the landscape of “loss and damage funding arrangement” within the reality of the growing need of developing countries, and frontline communities, we are presenting these statements as key elements for the advisory board of Santiago to consider in its upcoming meeting.
- The expedition of the matching of the TA demands and enhanced outreach for TA submission for developing countries and frontline communities: LDYC notes with concern the level of the TA request received, the time of matching, and the limitation of developing countries that are constrained by a lack of domestic expertise to access the network’s TA. The regional office and desks that have been established must be proactive in outreach and onboarding countries that haven’t yet submitted their TA requests, aligning their outreach approach with the SN-approved strategy for 2026- 2028.
- The SN result framework should be embedded with equity of access as a core key performance indicator: In accordance with the network’s strategy, the success should be measured not only by the volume of the TA request provided, but also by the diversity of countries, sub-regions, and topics covered by the TA request. This can be in the form of a “public TA accountability dashboard” which tracks in real-time the number of TA requests received, the number of rejected ones, number of region covered, thematic groups of the TA received, the amount of the TA (SN budget support or in-kind support from countries or OBNEs), and the number of community lead TA request received.
- The SN should expedite the modality of the TA request from frontline communities and youth actors who seek assistance in designing an approach to address loss and damage: LDYC calls for a dedicated window aligned with the SN strategy that allows frontline communities and local actors including youth to initiate the expression of interest of the TA to the secretariat with a guided engagement with the SN liason in a manner that promotes the authencity of the community lead TA request on the local, national and secretariat level. This should go alongside adopting the working definition of the SN of “local and frontline actors” as well as outreach with diverse community-led organisations as providers of the TA within their region by promoting equitable partnerships at all levels.
- The resource mobilisation of the SN should be predictable, adequate and sufficient to allow the SN’s ability in fulfilling its mandate: LDYC welcome the adoption of the SN resource mobilisation strategy however we are concerned with the widening gap between the pledges and the actual fund available as well as the disbursement level to support the TA which jeopardise the integrity of the SN operational model. The resource mobilisation should serve as the baseline for establishing a clear timeline to turn pledges into contributions, clarifying the gap between TA requests and available SN funds, and providing a framework for biannual financial targets. Private-sector engagement in SN resource mobilisation should be defined with clarity and adopt a working definition of the SN, ensuring that developing countries do not bear, directly or indirectly, the debt burden or any burden resulting from private-sector engagement.
- Share the draft of terms of reference for the gap report on loss and damage to initiate consultations with ExCom, FRLD board members, developing countries, and frontline communities for a smooth start to the process: LDYC believes that the decision to produce a regular report on loss and damage is one of the successful outcomes of COP30. It is of importance that these ToR as developed by the advisory board of the SN, should be in coordination with the executive committe of WIM (ExCOM) especially the “action and support expert groups” to ensure the value addition of the reports in providing the clear, transparent, and equitable manner the extend of the gap in providing action and support for developing countries and frontline communities to take action to address loss and damage for a more concrete and action-base policy advise on the local, national, and international level.
- The effective complementarity, coherence and coordination between the SNAB chairs and ExCom should be more transparent and practical in advancing the achievement of the WIM’s functions: The LDYC believes that the SNAB and EXCom chairs should have joint action plans that are delivered from the WIM action plans, the plan of action of expert groups and the task force, and the Network strategy, and the outcome of the 3rd review to the WIM to generate an approach of collaboration aiming to promote, and enhance coordination of national focal points on loss and damage as well as local and frontline communities.
LDYC believes in the mandate of the SN, which places the network with a unique ability to not only ensure the achievement of the WIM’s function but also allow developing countries and frontline communities to have access to the technical assistance in a manner that can promote the development, strengthening, and promotion of a country-led approach to address loss and damage.