Operations Officer : World Bank

Closing date: Monday, 10 August 2015

Background / General description

The Adaptation Fund, a trust fund housed within the World Bank, was established by the parties to the Kyoto Protocol to finance concrete adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries that are parties to the protocol and are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Since 2010 the fund has dedicated around US$312 million to increase climate resilience in 43 countries around the world. The Global Environment Facility (GEF), through a dedicated team of officials, provides secretariat services to the Fund's governing body, the Adaptation Fund Board.

One of the innovative features of the Adaptation Fund is that countries can have direct access to the funds through an accredited National Implementing Entity (NIE), without involvement of multilateral agencies such as development banks or UN agencies. Alternatively, the countries can use the conventional path of accessing funding through accredited Multilateral Implementing Entities (MIEs). The Fund has pioneered direct access to its fund by eligible entities as one of its innovative features. It has successfully enabled direct access for accredited National Implementing Entities (NIEs). The other access modalities include through Regional Implementing Entities (RIEs) and through the most commonly used Multilateral Implementing Entities (MIEs). So far, the Fund has accredited 19 NIEs and 5 RIEs.

Among the principles established for the Adaptation Fund (Decision 5/CMP.2) is 'sound financial management, including the use of international fiduciary standards.' At its 7th meeting the Adaptation Fund Board adopted fiduciary standards governing the use, disbursement and reporting on funds issued by the Adaptation Fund covering three broad areas: Financial Integrity and Management; Institutional Capacity; and Transparency and Self-investigative Powers.

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