FIRST STRATEGY MEETING OF THE IEACF NETWORK 
26-27 February 2025, Abu Dhabi

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On February 26 and 27 2025, states, international financial institutions, development and humanitarian organizations gathered in Abu Dhabi for a series of discussions on scaling up access to and delivery of climate finance in countries affected by conflict/severe humanitarian needs. The meetings were convened with the support of the UAE and under the auspices of the COP29 presidency. On the agenda were the inaugural discussions of the Improved and Equitable Access Network for climate finance in conflict settings, launched at COP29, and chaired during its first meeting by Somalia. The discussions also included the inception meetings for the UNFCCC's Needs-based Finance project, launched in Chad, South Sudan, Yemen, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea.

 

Key themes

The meeting focused on the specific experiences of affected countries in addressing climate risks, accessing and using climate finance. Network members Burundi, Chad, Somalia, Yemen, and Timor Leste gave presentations on their national experiences, successes, and continued challenges.

 

Financial actors including the African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, Green Climate Fund, and Global Environment Facility intervened to discuss their ongoing efforts to scale up and improve access and delivery of climate finance in these contexts, while the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy similarly provided insight into their national efforts as donors. 

 

Technical partners including ODI, WFP, and the ICRC delivered presentations on their analytical work regarding existing flows of climate finance and potential future pathways, and operational efforts to address climate risks in conflict settings. The UNFCCC's presentation on the Needs-based Finance project included both general information about the project and its potential for additional country participation, and context-specifici discussions for this year's cohort.

 

At the end of the meeting, the Network's members drafted letters to a number of interlocutors, including the COP30 president and the World Bank Group, to offer its input and express its interest in continuing to champion the agenda of equitable access to climate finance in countries affected by conflict and severe humanitarian needs. Under the auspices of the COP29 presidency, a roadmap and statement are also in the final steps of endorsement and release. Initiation processes of the UNFCCC Needs-based Finance project were launched in each of the participant countries, and will continue through the year.

 

The Network nominated Chad as its next meeting chair, and dates for future meetings will be finalized alongside endorsement of the roadmap.