Adaptation Fund Demonstrates Commitment to Strengthening Health Adaptation and Resilience at COP 28 in Dubai

Dubai, UAE (November 3, 2023) — The Adaptation Fund (AF) took key strides forward to improve health of populations that are vulnerable to climate-related health risks on Health Day at the COP 28 Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates, where it announced its accreditation of the World Health Organization (WHO) as an implementing partner and its endorsement of the Guiding Principles for Financing Climate and Health Solutions, a key initiative spearheaded by the COP 28 Presidency, WHO and others.

The Fund’s announcement of its accreditation of WHO as a multilateral implementing entity (MIE), the first health-focused implementing entity among climate funds, follows the Board officially accrediting WHO on Nov. 24. WHO marks the 15^th MIE accredited to AF, and the Fund’s 56^th implementing partner among all its national, regional and multilateral accredited entities.

Lucas di Pietro, Vice-Chair of the Adaptation Fund Board, made the announcement at a COP28 side event on health adaptation and resilience moderated by WHO. “We strongly believe that this accreditation can facilitate access to climate finance and identify and scale up adaptation measures to address the health impacts of climate change,” said di Pietro during the event.

“We are committed to supporting the most vulnerable adapt to climate change through country-driven and locally led action, and already fund a number of adaptation projects that are improving access to clean water, hygiene, food security, reducing climate risks and building resilience and healthy lives at the same time,” said Mikko Ollikainen, Head of the Adaptation Fund, after the event. “With the WHO now accredited as the Adaptation Fund’s first health-focused Implementing Entity, the Adaptation Fund is eager to support developing countries in their climate adaptation in the health sector and scale up its actions to address elevated health risks associated with urgent global adaptation needs.”

Di Pietro said AF is honored to count WHO as an official partner. Founded in 1948 with a longstanding track record of effective project implementation and execution, WHO is the UN agency that connects nations, partners and people to “promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.”

Also announced in Dubai, the Adaptation Fund Board’s endorsement of the Guiding Principles for Financing Climate and Health Solutions, spearheaded by the COP28 Presidency, the WHO and others, combined with the WHO accreditation to demonstrate AF’s commitment to reducing climate-related health risks in vulnerable communities.

“The Adaptation Fund is pleased to endorse the Guiding Principles for Financing Climate and Health Solutions led by the COP28 Presidency, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, WHO, GCF and other partners. With more than 3 billion people worldwide highly vulnerable to climate change and facing resulting increased health risks, it is imperative to accelerate adaptation measures that build healthy, resilient communities and protect people from a range of climate risks to health. We need to multiply efforts to address urgent global adaptation needs, and we hope these principles will help strengthen that ambition on the ground,” Ollikainen said during a COP28 health showcase event where he announced the Fund’s endorsement.

ABOUT THE ADAPTATION FUND 

Since 2010, the Adaptation Fund has committed over US$ 1 billion for climate change adaptation and resilience projects and programmes, including 150 concrete, localized projects in the most vulnerable communities of developing countries around the world with over 40 million total beneficiaries. It also pioneered Direct Access and Enhanced Direct Access, empowering countries to access funding and develop local projects directly through accredited national implementing entities.

Communications: Matthew Pueschel, mpueschel@adaptation-fund.org or +1-202-473-6743 

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