The fourth Advisory Board meeting of the Santiago network was held from 15 to 17 April 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting concluded with significant progress that underscored the growing momentum behind the network’s mission to catalyze technical assistance in responding to loss and damage. The meeting brought together the Advisory Board, Secretariat and co-hosts, as well as Members and observers, to accelerate the work of the Santiago network and position it within the loss and damage landscape. 

The meeting kicked off with acknowledgment of the progress made by the Santiago network Secretariat, celebrating key milestones achieved ahead of the meeting. This included the Santiago network reaching 50 Members, the designation of national liaisons to the network from an initial set of 20 countries and the translation of operational guidelines into French and Spanish, reflecting the momentum of ongoing efforts and growing interest in the network. The Advisory Board also expressed appreciation to the outgoing Co-Chairs, Alpha Kaloga and Akio Takemoto, and welcomed the newly elected Co-Chairs, Angela Rivera and Stella Brożek-Everaert.

The Advisory Board welcomed the progress made in operationalizing procedures for technical assistance, noting the successful launch of the first call for proposals to deliver technical assistance in Vanuatu and the receipt of a new request from Iraq. Recognizing the need to accelerate such support to climate-vulnerable countries, the Advisory Board emphasized the importance of continued outreach and simplification of guidance materials to enhance accessibility.

In a pivotal decision, the Advisory Board approved the establishment of a regional presence for the Santiago network Secretariat to effectively fulfill the Santiago network’s mandate. Under an innovative approach, a combination of Regional Coordinators, Desk Officers, and designated contact points will be strategically located across regions, including Dar es Salaam, Bangkok, Panama, Dakar, Suva, and the network's head office, with contact points in Adis Ababa, Barbados, Brussels and Cairo, to ensure localized support and effective delivery of technical assistance.

To maintain continued operations, the Board approved the continuation of interim personnel through 2025 and endorsed the recruitment of regional and programme staff. Acknowledging the evolving needs of the network, the regional structure will be reviewed in 2028 to ensure it remains effective and responsive.

The Advisory Board engaged in productive discussions on the development of the Santiago network strategy, communications strategy, outreach strategy and resource mobilization strategy, all of which are being further developed for adoption at the fifth meeting of the Advisory Board. The strategies aim to enhance the Santiago network’s positioning, visibility, impact and sustainability.

The fifth meeting of the Advisory Board is planned to take place in early September 2025. In the interim, informal meetings and intersessional work will be undertaken to accelerate the Santiago network progress towards its mission. 

Finally, the Advisory Board welcomed Carolina Fuentes Castellanos as the Director of the Santiago network Secretariat and expressed gratitude to the interim team for their dedication during the network’s formative stages.

As the Santiago network continues to advance, this meeting marks a critical juncture – transforming strategic vision into action, strengthening its foundation for impactful support, and building a truly inclusive and responsive network for addressing loss and damage for those most vulnerable to climate impacts. 

Information on the meeting, on-demand recordings and the meeting report are available on the meeting page.