The Santiago network plays a crucial role in enhancing the delivery of action and support to address climate change impacts in developing countries. It catalyzes technical assistance from various organizations, bodies, networks, and experts (OBNEs) to support developing countries in averting, minimizing, and addressing loss and damage caused by climate change. Its mandate includes facilitating access to knowledge, resources, and technical assistance to address climate risks comprehensively.
The Santiago network was established in December 2019, by the CMA, by decision 2/CMA.2, and noted by the COP in decision 2/CP.25, as part of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts. The WIM is the principal institutional arrangement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for enhancing understanding, coherence, coordination, action and support for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in developing countries.
At COP 28 and CMA 5, in December 2023, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) were selected as the hosts of the Santiago network secretariat.