2nd South Asia Stakeholders’ Consultation on Growing Disaster Loss and Damage Risks : Regional Expectations from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF)
Updated: Sep 17
On 14 September 2026, Change Initiative (CI), in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), convened the “2nd South Asia Stakeholders’ Consultation on Growing Disaster Loss and Damage Risks: Regional Expectations from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).”
The consultation session was registered by more than 300 individuals from 6 South Asian countries, reflecting strong interest among civil society organizations, youth networks, researchers, community representatives, policy practitioners and climate actors in shaping a more responsive and inclusive climate-finance architecture.
In his opening presentation, M Zakir Hossain Khan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Change Initiative and Independent Observer to CIF-SCF, emphasized that the quality, accessibility and accountability of climate finance matter as much as its volume. He called for CIF financing to strengthen resilient natural systems not merely isolated projects and highlighted the need for:
• grant-based financing that does not deepen sovereign debt vulnerability;
• climate-debt risk screening for vulnerable economies;
• faster approval and disbursement with real-time tracking and open data;
• enforceable safeguards, social audits and effective grievance mechanisms;
• community stewardship and meaningful local participation; and
• regional investment responses to transboundary river-basin, glacier, freshwater, coastal and ecosystem risks.
Drawing on Change Initiative’s CIF Observer engagement, the Climate Debt Risk Index covering 55 LDCs and its advocacy through Natural Rights-Led Governance (NRLG), he underscored the need to move from market-centred climate aid towards obligation-based climate justice recognising vulnerable communities and Nature as rights-holders.
Dr. Madhav Karki, Chair and Distinguished Fellow at CGED-Nepal, discussed positioning Nepal’s Resilient Bhotekoshi–Trishuli River Basin initiative within the CIF framework. Mr. Rijan Bhakta Kayastha, Head of the Department of Environmental Science at Kathmandu University, highlighted the escalating risks of glacial flooding caused by ice and rock avalanches in the Bhotekoshi River.
The dialogue was also joined by April Connelly, representing the CIF team, strengthening direct engagement between regional stakeholders and the Climate Investment Funds.
Following an open stakeholder discussion, Mukhtar Ahmad Ali, Executive Director of CPDI and Independent Observer to CIF-CTF, delivered the key takeaways and closing remarks. The consultation’s collective recommendations will inform Observer engagement with the CIF Trust Fund Committee and support the advancement of more equitable, transparent, regionally responsive and country-owned climate finance.
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