The Santiago Network Secretariat is issuing this call for proposals to catalyze technical assistance from organizations, bodies, networks, and experts (OBNEs) in response to a request from Zambia.

The objective of this technical assistance is to strengthen Zambia’s capacity to assess, monitor, and address loss and damage from the adverse effects of climate change across key sectors. This will be achieved by improving national systems for data collection and monitoring, strengthening institutional and technical capacities to undertake robust loss and damage assessments, and supporting the integration of loss and damage considerations into national policies, planning processes, and sectoral strategies. 

In addition, the technical assistance seeks to strengthen Zambia’s readiness to access international climate finance, particularly financing related to loss and damage, including from the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage. By generating more robust evidence, improving institutional coordination, and enhancing policy alignment, the assistance is expected to support more informed decision-making, strengthen resilience among vulnerable sectors and populations, and improve the country’s ability to mobilize and use climate finance effectively.

The Santiago Network was established in 2019 under the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM) as a mechanism to catalyze technical assistance from relevant OBNEs to avert, minimize, and address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change at local, national, and regional levels. This support is intended for developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

Members of the Santiago Network are eligible to respond to this call for proposals. Interested OBNEs that are not yet Members of the Santiago Network may submit proposals, provided they submit an Expression of Interest for membership in line with the membership guidelines. Any OBNE selected to respond to the call for proposals must have also been confirmed as a Member of the Santiago Network prior to their selection. More information can be found in Section 2.10, "Applicant eligibility" of this call for proposals, and details on the membership process and criteria can be found on the Santiago Network membership page.

Relevant expertise and experience in the subject matter are required for this call for proposals. Applicants are encouraged to highlight their qualifications at different levels, including local, national, regional and international. They are also requested to give due consideration to how they will maintain close coordination with relevant government counterparts and other stakeholders.

In order to facilitate matchmaking for consortia building around this proposal, the Secretariat invites applicants to express their interest in partnering with others by completing this form. Please note that the information provided through this form will appear on the matchmaking interest sheet listed in the 'Documents' section below accompanying this call for proposals. Therefore, it will be visible to all registered Grant+ users.

This call for proposals is managed by UNOPS in its capacity as a co‑host of the Santiago Network Secretariat. 

Important dates and deadlines

Submission via Grant+

Grant+ is the new UNOPS grant management platform. An online information session showing how to upload proposals will take place on Wednesday, 06 May 2026 at 11:00 AM (GMT+2) . The meeting will be held via Zoom. Register in advance via this link.