21/07/2026
𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines reinforced its role in advancing global climate action as it successfully hosted the ninth meeting of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), where the Board advanced key operational arrangements for the Fund and discussed measures to strengthen support for climate-vulnerable developing countries.
Held at the Asian Development Bank Headquarters in Manila, the meeting brought together FRLD Board members, alternate members, advisers, observers, the FRLD Secretariat, development partners, and other stakeholders to continue discussions on the institutional and operational foundations of the Fund.
Among the key agenda items was the establishment of the Country Support System (CSS), a mechanism designed to help developing countries strengthen their capacity to access, implement, and manage loss and damage finance. The Board discussed an initial annual funding allocation of USD 7.5 million for the CSS, with an annual cap of USD 250,000 per country.
The CSS aims to support countries that face challenges in navigating international climate finance processes by strengthening national capacities, supporting the development of funding proposals, and empowering national focal points to advance locally led loss and damage responses. The Board will continue discussions on the remaining operational arrangements of the mechanism.
The Board also officially adopted the Results Measurement Framework for early projects under the Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM). The framework establishes guidance for monitoring, evaluating, and learning from projects supported by the Fund.
Meanwhile, the FRLD Secretariat continued its review of 176 funding requests submitted by 119 developing countries under the BIM. Decisions on the requests were deferred to allow for further assessment and ensure that proposals undergo a thorough review process.
The meeting also covered the Fund’s resource mobilization strategy, observer accreditation, and preparations for the upcoming 31st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna underscored the importance of the Board’s work in establishing the foundations needed for the Fund to deliver support to countries most affected by climate change.
“Decisions made during these sessions are vital to the continued operationalization of the Fund, as the Board works to build the institutional and operational foundations needed to protect vulnerable developing countries,” Secretary Cuna said.
He added that the effective operationalization of the Fund reflects the principles of international cooperation, solidarity, and shared responsibility under the global climate regime.
FRLD Executive Director Ibrahima Cheikh Diong recognized the Philippines’ commitment in hosting the Board meeting and advancing efforts to translate the Fund’s objectives into meaningful support for vulnerable communities.
Beyond hosting the meeting, the Philippines also highlighted its own efforts to strengthen climate resilience and contribute to global loss and damage solutions.
The country has submitted the Archipelagic Loss and Damage Responses from Local to National Recovery in the Philippines (ALON Project) under the Fund’s Barbados Implementation Modalities. The five-year proposal seeks to support pilot interventions in Catanduanes and Sarangani Bay, focusing on climate recovery efforts in vulnerable communities.
As the 2026 ASEAN Chair, the Philippines is also leading regional efforts to develop the ASEAN Loss and Damage Roadmap, which aims to strengthen cooperation among Southeast Asian countries in addressing climate-related losses and damages.
The Philippines likewise continues to contribute to efforts to better understand and assess non-economic losses. Through the Green Assessment and Recovery Framework (GARF), developed by the DENR in partnership with the Center for Conservation Innovations Philippines and with support from Global Affairs Canada, the country is strengthening approaches for assessing impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services, cultural values, and community well-being following climate-induced disasters.
To contribute to global efforts to better understand and assess non-economic losses of biodiversity and ecosystem services and guide countries in conducting comprehensive assessments, the Philippines, through the DENR and the CCIPH, is supporting the pilot implementation of FRAME-ECO (Framework for Assessing Climate Change and Disaster-Related Losses of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), an initiative led by the United Nations University–Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The ninth FRLD Board Meeting in Manila marks another step toward strengthening the Fund’s ability to respond to loss and damage while highlighting the Philippines’ continuing contributions to global and regional climate action.
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