Cross-Constituencies letter to co-chair of Fund for responding to Loss and Damage on Just and Inclusive selection of the Exective Director

We acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the Board of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in the selection process for the Executive Director. We appreciate the commitment shown by the Board to ensure a timely recruitment process.

We, as representatives of rights-based constituencies  – Environmental NGOs (Climate Action Network (CAN) and Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ)); Trade Union NGOs (International Trade Union Confederation); Women & Gender, and the Indigenous Peoples Organisations (IPO), would like to offer the following recommendations regarding the appointment of the Executive Director (ED) to lead the newly established, independent Secretariat of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. 

The role of the Executive Director will be critical in shaping the Fund’s early trajectory, with significant implications for the vulnerable communities and countries the Fund is designed to support. We recognise the importance of this decision for the future direction and success of the Fund; therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the appointment process is transparent and inclusive.

The selection of the Executive Director must reflect the core values of equity, human rights and justice, as well as a commitment to serving the best interests of the most affected. We urge that the selection process goes beyond the typical pool of candidates from development finance and management backgrounds, which often dominate recruitment for multilateral climate funds. 

Instead, we call upon the search firm and the Ad Hoc Selection Committee to identify and prioritise candidates for the rounds of interviews who have an understanding of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, as well as a strong commitment to delivering equitable, transparent, rights-based and inclusive climate finance to developing countries. A deep connection to, and understanding of, the climate challenges faced by the affected and often marginalized communities is essential.

We strongly recommend that the Executive Director be from the Global South, with a proven track record of working with vulnerable countries, their governments, finance ministries, Indigenous Peoples, women’s, labour and youth rights groups and broader civil society. This perspective will be critical in ensuring that the Fund’s operations truly reflect the needs of those it is intended to serve.

As the primary architect of the Secretariat’s future, the new Executive Director must have the skills to advocate effectively for the necessary scale of finance and the proven ability to raise resources, including through new financial sources to generate additional revenue, to meet the needs of communities and countries facing increasing losses and damages.

The new Executive Director must also possess strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills to engage all Board members, maintain an inclusive dialogue, and ensure that Indigenous Peoples, affected communities, civil society,  gender, labour and youth rights groups, older persons, people with disabilities and academia have meaningful input in decision-making processes. Experience in overseeing the operationalization of governance structures, including the participation of rights holders, will be key to maintaining the transparency and legitimacy of the Fund.

Furthermore, we emphasise the importance of selecting an Executive Director with a demonstrated commitment to a human-rights-based, labour-rights and gender-responsive approach, championing access to funding for affected communities, women, workers, Indigenous Peoples and marginalised groups and supporting devolved decision-making processes and locally-led approaches. The new Executive Director must possess the experience and resolve to implement these mechanisms, thereby upholding the rights and dignity of the communities, Indigenous Peoples and individuals most affected by climate change.

In conclusion, the appointment of the Executive Director will set the tone for how the Fund operates in its formative years. We urge the Board to prioritise candidates who embody the principles of justice, equity, and inclusion and who are committed to championing the voices and protecting the rights of vulnerable communities and countries.

We trust that you will take these considerations seriously in your final decision-making process. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.