Board decisions

The Board, having considered document GCF/B.30/12 titled “Independent Evaluation Unit 2022 Work Plan and Budget and Update of its Three-year Objectives and Work Plan”:

1. Approves the work plan and budget of the Independent Evaluation Unit for 2022 as contained in annex VI (total budgeted amount of USD 6,487,012);
2. Requests the Budget Committee to review the budget execution during 2022 and acknowledges that the Independent Evaluation Unit may present to the Board for consideration at its thirty-second meeting an additional budgetary request to execute its workplan for 2022;
3. Notes the update on the Independent Evaluation Unit’s rolling three-year work plan, outlined in annex VII as requested by the Board to ensure flexibility, learning and predictability for the Independent Evaluation Unit; and
4. Recalls decision B.24/04 and the Board-endorsed four-year policy cycle, and decision B.27/06, paragraph (p), and requests the Independent Evaluation Unit to deliver urgently the outputs from the review so that they can inform the Board in a timely manner in its review of the Strategic Plan for the GCF 2020–2023.

The Board:

1. Underscores the provisions of the Governing Instrument for the GCF, the Evaluation Policy for the GCF and the terms of reference of the Independent Evaluation Unit that specify, among other provisions, that:
   1. The GCF is a continuously learning institution guided by processes for monitoring and evaluation;
   2. The purpose of independent evaluations is to inform decision-making and to identify and disseminate lessons learned;
   3. Evaluation results should feed back into the development, update and design of strategies, policies and operations, thus contributing to enhancing the quality of the overall performance of GCF; and
   4. The Board is expected to actively consider findings and recommendations from Independent Evaluation Unit evaluations and incorporate them into the policies and advice the Board provides to GCF overall;
2. Confirms that the consideration of the simplified approval process policy at the thirtieth meeting of the Board does not prejudge future Board deliberations;
3. Urges the Co-Chairs to ensure that, in future Board meetings, the Board will actively consider evaluations, in line with the Evaluation Policy for the GCF;
4. Invites members and alternate members of the Board to consider the findings and recommendations of the following evaluations and the corresponding Secretariat management responses, and to provide any comments not later than 10 December 2021:
   1. Independent evaluation of the GCF’s country ownership approach;
   2. Independent evaluation of the GCF’s environmental and social safeguards and the environmental and social management system;
   3. Independent synthesis of the GCF’s accreditation function;
   4. Rapid assessment of the GCF’s request for proposals modality; and
   5. Independent evaluation of the GCF’s approach to the private sector; and
5. Requests the Independent Evaluation Unit to prepare a summary of views expressed by members and alternate members of the Board on each of the evaluations referred to in paragraph (d) above, so that these views can be incorporated into Board discussions and decisions on related policy items.

The Board, having considered document GCF/B.30/16/Rev.01 titled “Dates and venues of upcoming meetings of the Board”:

1. Decides that the thirty-first meeting of the Board will take place from Monday 7 February to Thursday, 10 February 2022 in Songdo, Incheon, Republic of Korea, should conditions allow for an in-person meeting;
2. Also decides that the thirty-second meeting of the Board will take place from Monday, 9 May to Thursday, 12 May 2022;
3. Further decides that the thirty-third meeting of the Board will take place from Monday, 27 June to Thursday, 30 June 2022;
4. Decides that the thirty-fourth meeting of the Board will take place from Monday, 24 October to Thursday, 27 October 2022;
5. Underscores the importance of the full participation and involvement of the entire Board from all constituencies in the Board meetings and pre-Board meeting consultation process as an essential condition for holding an effective and full participatory meeting; and
6. Requests the Co-Chairs to continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of GCF, and to report to the Board appropriately.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/21 titled “Accreditation of observer organizations” and through a decision taken between meetings on a no-objection basis:

Approves the accreditation of the following organizations as observer organizations to the GCF:

Civil society organizations:
Environmental Awareness Group (EAG)
Rare Inc.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/17, titled “Revisions to the Green Climate Fund’s Environmental and Social Policy to reaffirm the Fund’s commitment to addressing Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment”:

1. Reiterates the commitment of GCF to the highest standards of integrity, including its zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment;
2. Adopts the revised Environmental and Social Policy as set out in annex I to this document to replace the Environmental and Social Policy adopted by the Board pursuant to decision B.19/10 with respect to projects and programmes approved at or after the thirty-second meeting of the Board;
3. Decides that the revised Environmental and Social Policy adopted by this decision will apply to all GCF-financed projects and programmes submitted for consideration by the Board on or after the thirty-second meeting of the Board, and that the Environmental and Social Policy adopted by the Board pursuant to decision B.19/10 will apply to GCF-financed projects and programmes submitted for consideration by the Board prior to the thirty-second meeting of the Board;
4. Requests the Secretariat to develop a Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment Action Plan as described in the revised Environmental and Social Policy adopted by this decision, no later than the thirty-first meeting of the Board; and
5. Approves the budget for the implementation of the revised Environmental and Social Policy, for the total budgeted amount of USD 320,650.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/16 titled “Additional administrative budget for Phase I of the remedial activities addressing monitoring and evaluation gaps in the GCF portfolio”:

1. Recalls decision B.28/02 in relation to the document GCF/B.28/04 and in line with the Board approval of the Secretariat actions to advance remedial measures addressing the gaps in the current portfolio;
2. Approves additional administrative budget of USD 712,400 for advancing activities under Phase I of the remedial actions; and
3. Requests the Secretariat to immediately initiate the procurement process for retaining a vendor to support the remedial activities under Phase I of the remedial activities.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2020/18/Rev.01 titled “Guidelines to facilitate Board consideration of IRM reports on reconsideration requests, grievances or complaints”:

1. Adopts the Guidelines as set out in annex I to this document; and
2. Agrees to delete:
   1. The words “as soon as possible or at the next Board meeting” from paragraph 19 of the Procedures and Guidelines of the Independent Redress Mechanism as adopted by the Board in decision B.22/22 (“Procedures and Guidelines”); and
   2. The final sentence from paragraph 63 of the said Procedures and Guidelines.

The Board, having considered document GCF/B.29/12 titled “Integrated Results Management Framework”:

1. Approves the integrated results management framework, including the proposed core and supplementary indicators and approach as set out in annex I, while noting explicitly that these replace the initial results management framework set out in decision B.07/04 and mitigation and adaptation performance measurement frameworks set out in decision B.08/07;
2. Confirms that the new integrated results management framework indicators do not replace the eight GCF results areas, nor are they to be used in deciding the eligibility of projects and/or programmes submitted to GCF;
3. Reaffirms that the resource allocation parameters agreed in the Updated Strategic Plan for the Green Climate Fund: 2020–2023 through decision B.27/06 remain unchanged;
4. Confirms that ex post results to be collected via the implementation of the integrated results management framework will not be used differently from the current results management and performance measurement frameworks for ex ante assessment of funding proposals by the Secretariat, the independent Technical Advisory Panel and the Board;
5. Requests the Secretariat to develop and present to the Board for approval an accompanying results handbook, taking into account feedback received from accredited entities, national designated authorities and focal points, and other GCF stakeholders, on the application of the integrated results management framework;
6. Also requests the Secretariat to implement capacity-building initiatives on results management, measurement and reporting systems for accredited entities and other relevant stakeholders to enable effective implementation of the integrated results management framework;
7. Decides to allocate an additional amount of up to USD 12.4 million under the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme as a new dedicated support component to be provided directly to direct access entities, including regional direct access entities, to support the implementation of the integrated results management framework;
8. Requests the Secretariat to operationalize this funding window to allow direct access entities to request such funds directly;
9. Notes that in allocating the additional amount to direct access entities, consideration could be given to the different capacity gaps of direct access entities as well as to country context and specificities, including for the least developed countries, Small Island Developing States and African States;
10. Decides that readiness commitments through the dedicated funding window referred to in paragraph (g) above are not included in and do not form part of the existing USD 1 million cap per country per year under the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme referred to in decision B.08/11, paragraph (f), and are not subject to clearance by direct access entities;
11. Requests the Secretariat to inform national designated authorities of support rendered to direct access entities within their national mandate;
12. Also requests the Secretariat to track results as part of its annual reporting under the Updated Strategic Plan for the Green Climate Fund: 2020–2023, using the results tracking tool aligned with the integrated results management framework; and
13. Further requests the Secretariat to review the integrated results management framework on an ongoing basis, in consultation with accredited entities, national designated authorities and focal points, and other relevant stakeholders, and, if action by the Board is required as a result of the review, to present recommendations to the Board for its consideration and approval.

The Board, having considered document GCF/B.29/02/Rev.02 titled “Consideration of funding proposals”:

1. Takes note of the following funding proposals:
   1. Funding proposal 165 titled “Building Climate Resilient Safer Islands in the Maldives”, by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, as contained in document GCF/B.29/02/Add.01 and 07;
   2. Funding proposal 166 titled “Light Rail Transit for the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM)”, by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, as contained in document GCF/B.29/02/Add.02 and 07;
   3. Funding proposal 167 titled “Transforming Eastern Province through Adaptation” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as contained in document GCF/B.29/02/Add.03/Rev.02 and 07; and
   4. Funding proposal 168 titled “Leveraging Energy Access Finance (LEAF) Framework”, by the African Development Bank, as contained in document GCF/B.29/02/Add.05;
2. Approves funding proposal 165 for the amount of USD 25,097,880, submitted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, subject to the conditions set out in annex II and in the respective term sheet set out in document GCF/B.29/02/Add.07;
3. Also approves funding proposal 166 for the amount of USD 271,300,000, submitted by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, subject to the conditions set out in annex II and in the respective term sheet set out in document GCF/B.29/02/Add.07;
4. Further approves funding proposal 167 for the amount of USD 33,783,755, submitted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, subject to the conditions set out in annex II and in the respective term sheet set out in document GCF/B.29/02/Add.07;
5. Approves funding proposal 168 for the amount of USD 170,900,000, submitted by the African Development Bank, subject to the conditions set out in annex II and in the respective term sheet set out in document GCF/B.29/02/Add.05;
6. Reaffirms that pursuant to annex IV to decision B.17/09, the Executive Director or his designee is authorized to negotiate and enter into legal agreements on behalf of the GCF with accredited entities and other parties involved in respect of funding proposals approved by the Board, taking into account any condition approved by the Board in this decision and in the decision accrediting the relevant accredited entity; and
7. Authorizes the Secretariat to disburse fees for each funded project/programme approved by the Board as per the disbursement schedule to be agreed in the funded activity agreement in accordance with the policy on fees and the general principles and indicative list of eligible costs covered under GCF fees and project management costs adopted by the Board pursuant to decision B.19/09.

The Board, having considered limited distribution document GCF/B.29/04 titled “Status of approved funding proposals: extension of deadline in respect of SAP010 (Multi-Hazard Impact-Based Forecasting and Early Warning System for the Philippines)”:

Decides to extend the deadline until 22 December 2021 for the execution of the funded activity agreement, in a form and substance satisfactory to the Secretariat, for the following approved funding proposal:

1. SAP010, titled “Multi-Hazard Impact-Based Forecasting and Early Warning System for the Philippines”.

The Board, having considered limited distribution document GCF/B.29/10 titled “Status of approved funding proposals: Extension of deadline in respect of FP153 (Mongolian Green Finance Corporation)”:

Decides to extend the deadline until 8 November 2021 for the submission by the accredited entity of a certificate or legal opinion, in form and substance satisfactory to the Secretariat, confirming that the accredited entity has obtained all final internal approvals needed by it and has the capacity and authority to implement the proposed programme for the following approved funding proposal:

1. FP153, titled “Mongolian Green Finance Corporation”.

The Board, having considered document GCF/B.29/07 titled “Consideration of accreditation proposals”:

1. Takes note with appreciation of the assessments conducted by the Secretariat and the Accreditation Panel contained within the relevant annexes for the following applicants:
   1. Applicant 106 (APL106) is the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), based in Philippines, as contained in annex III;
   2. Applicant 107 (APL107) is the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ), based in Zambia, as contained in annex IV;
   3. Applicant 108 (APL108) is the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ), based in Zimbabwe, as contained in annex V;
   4. Applicant 109 (APL109) is the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy S.A., (Masen), as contained in annex VI;
   5. Applicant 110 (APL110) is the Vietnam Development Bank (VDB), based in Viet Nam, as contained in annex VII;
   6. Applicant 111 (APL111) is the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), based in the Republic of Korea, as contained in annex VIII;
   7. Applicant 112 (APL112) is Nacional Financiera, S.N.C., Banca de Desarrollo (NAFIN) based in Mexico, as contained in annex IX;
   8. Applicant 113 (APL113) is the Joint Stock Company TBC Bank (TBC) based in Georgia, as contained in annex X;
   9. Applicant 114 (APL114) is the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) based in Costa Rica, as contained in annex XI; and
2. Recalls decision B.26/06, paragraph (c), wherein the Board decided, at the request of applicant 100 (APL100, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) based in Japan), to defer the consideration of APL100, as contained in annex IV to document GCF/B.26/03, until no later than the twenty-eighth meeting of the Board;
3. Further recalls decision B.12/30, paragraph (c), in which the Board underlines its expectation that accredited entities will advance the goal of the GCF to promote the paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways in the context of sustainable development;
4. Recalls decision B.27/06, paragraph (a), where the Board endorsed the Updated Strategic Plan for the Green Climate Fund: 2020-2023, in which the GCF committed to foster climate mainstreaming across its partnership network, including through active collaboration with entities seeking accreditation to mainstream climate considerations more broadly across their operations and portfolios to drive institutional transformation;
5. Further recalls, pursuant to decision B.24/13 and annex XXVI thereto, that the re-accreditation decision by the Board will take into account the Secretariat and Accreditation Panel’s assessment of the extent to which the accredited entity’s overall portfolio of activities beyond those funded by the GCF has evolved in this direction during the accreditation period;
6. Takes note with appreciation of APL100 new climate policy and action plan (announced as of 12 May 2021, also available in the document GCF/B.29/07/Add.03), and underlines its relevance for the group’s application to the status of Green Climate Fund Accredited Entity;
7. Approves accreditation of the applicant 100 (APL100), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), based in Japan, as contained in annex IV to document GCF/B.26/03, pursuant to paragraph 45 of the Governing Instrument for the GCF, subject to, and in accordance with, the assessments by the Accreditation Panel and subject to the completion of Stage III of accreditation by having an effective accreditation master agreement, in accordance with decision B.23/11;
8. Further approves accreditation of the applicant 106 (APL106), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), based in Philippines, as contained in annex III;
9. Further approves accreditation of the applicant 107 (APL107), the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ), based in Zambia, as contained in annex IV;
10. Further approves accreditation of the applicant 108 (APL108), the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ), based in Zimbabwe, as contained in annex V;
11. Further approves accreditation of the applicant 109 (APL109), the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy S.A., (Masen), as contained in annex VI;
12. Further approves accreditation of the applicant 110 (APL110), the Vietnam Development Bank (VDB), based in Viet Nam, as contained in annex VII;
13. Further approves accreditation of the applicant 111 (APL111), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), based in the Republic of Korea, as contained in annex VIII;
14. Further approves accreditation of the applicant 112 (APL112), Nacional Financiera, S.N.C., Banca de Desarrollo (NAFIN) based in Mexico, as contained in annex IX;
15. Further approves accreditation of the applicant 113 (APL113), the Joint Stock Company TBC Bank (TBC) based in Georgia, as contained in annex X;
16. Approves accreditation of the applicant 114 (APL114), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) based in Costa Rica, as contained in annex XI;
17. Takes note with appreciation of the assessment conducted by the Secretariat and the Accreditation Panel contained within annex XIII for the following applicant seeking to upgrade its accreditation type:
    1. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) based in Italy, as contained in annex XII; and
18. Agrees to upgrade the accreditation type of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) as contained in decision B.14/11, paragraph (b), subject to, and in accordance with the assessment by the Accreditation Panel contained in annex XII.

The Board, having considered document GCF/B.29/07 titled “Consideration of accreditation proposals”:

1. Takes note with appreciation of the assessments conducted by the Secretariat and the Accreditation Panel contained within the relevant annexes for the following applicants for re-accreditation:
   1. Applicant R021 (RAPL021) is the Agency for Agricultural Development of Morocco (ADA), based in Morocco, as contained in the annex I of addendum II;
   2. Applicant R003 (RAPL003) is the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), based in Samoa, as contained in annex II of addendum II, and
      
      pursuant to paragraph 45 of the Governing Instrument for the GCF, subject to, and in accordance with, the assessments by the Accreditation Panel contained in the relevant annexes for each of the applicants, and subject to the completion of Stage III of the accreditation by having an effective amendment to the accreditation master agreement, in accordance with decision B.24/13:
2. Approves the re-accreditation of applicant RAPL021, the Agency for Agricultural Development of Morocco (ADA), based in Morocco, as contained in annex I of addendum II; and
3. Further approves re-accreditation of applicant RAPL003, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), based in Samoa, as contained in annex II of addendum II.

The Board, having considered document GCF/B.29/11 titled “Dates and venues of upcoming meetings of the Board”:

1. Confirms that the thirtieth meeting of the Board will take place from Monday, 4 October to Thursday, 7 October 2021 and that this be held as a net-meeting;
2. Underscores the importance of the full participation and involvement of the entire Board from all constituencies in the Board meetings and pre-Board meeting consultation process as an essential condition for holding an effective and full participatory meeting;
3. Requests the Secretariat, where applicable, to take appropriate steps to ensure the full and effective participation of all Board members, alternate members, advisers and active observers in the net-meeting, including testing the technology and providing support to developing countries in particular; and
4. Also requests the Co-Chairs to continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of GCF, and to report to the Board appropriately.

The Board, having reviewed document GCF/BM-2021/14/Rev.01 titled “Amendment to the Evaluation Policy for the GCF: Updated terms of reference of the Independent Evaluation Unit”:

1. Recalls decision B.BM-2021/07 requesting the Independent Evaluation Unit to present updated terms of reference of the Independent Evaluation Unit, as an amendment to the Evaluation Policy for the GCF, for consideration by the Board at its twenty-ninth session;
2. Approves the updated terms of reference of the Independent Evaluation Unit as contained in annex I; and
3. Agrees that the updated terms of reference will constitute an annex to the Evaluation Policy for the GCF, which is amended through this decision.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/13 titled “Audited financial statements of the Green Climate Fund for the year ended 31 December 2020”:

Approves the audited financial statements of the Green Climate Fund for the year ended 31 December 2020 as contained in annex I.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/08/Rev.01 titled “Selection process to recruit the Head of the Independent Evaluation Unit”:

1. Establishes the Selection Committee as an ad hoc committee of the Board in accordance with paragraphs 2(g) and 30 of the Rules of Procedure of the Board;
2. Appoints as members of the Selection Committee:
   1. Hans Olav Ibrekk;
   2. Jeremiah Garwo Sokan;
   3. Lars Roth;
   4. Marta Mulas;
   5. Nauman Bhatti; and
   6. Ornela Cuci;
3. Adopts the terms of reference of the Selection Committee as set out in annex I;
4. Requests the Selection Committee to undertake a review of the terms of reference of the Head of the Independent Evaluation Unit1 and present recommendations, if and where appropriate, for the Board’s consideration and approval no later than at its thirtieth meeting;
5. Decides that the updated version of the terms of reference of the Head of the Independent Evaluation Unit shall be the basis for the Head of the Independent Evaluation Unit once adopted;
6. Adopts the terms of reference of the selection firm as set out in annex II and instructs the Secretariat to start the procurement process as a matter of urgency;
7. Authorizes the Selection Committee to engage the services of the independent executive search firm, with due observance of applicable procurement rules;
8. Further requests the Selection Committee to present its report containing the recommendations regarding the outcome of the recruitment process in order for the Board to select the Head of the Independent Evaluation Unit at its thirty-first meeting;
9. Approves a budget set out in annex I of document GCF/B.28/20/Add.01 for the selection process of the Head of the Independent Evaluation Unit, including the cost of the selection firm as referred to in paragraph (f) of this decision, and requests the Budget Committee to review the budgetary allocation and to oversee its execution;
10. Takes note of decision B.BM-2021/07 regarding the process to review and update the terms of reference of the Independent Evaluation Unit as an amendment to the Evaluation Policy of the GCF, and further stressing the link between the updated evaluation policy of the GCF and the duties entrusted to the Head of the Independent Evaluation Unit; and
11. Decides that the conclusion of the process to select and recruit a new Head of the Independent Evaluation Unit shall follow the approval of the Board of the updated terms of reference of the Independent Evaluation Unit and the update of the Evaluation Policy of the GCF.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/11 titled “Accreditation of observer organizations” and through a decision taken between meetings on a no-objection basis:

Approves the accreditation of the following organizations as observer organizations to the GCF:

Civil society organizations:
A Rocha Ghana (ARG)
Enaleia Civil Non-Profit Organization
Kasa Initiative Ghana (KASA)
The Gold Standard Foundation (GSF)
Zambia Institute of Environmental Management (ZIEM)

Private sector organizations:
Vanuatu Business Resilience Committee (VBRC)

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/12 titled “Launching the Second Performance Review of the Green Climate Fund”:

1. Recalls paragraph 59 of the Governing Instrument for the GCF, which states that “there will be periodic independent evaluations of the performance of the Fund in order to provide an objective assessment of the results of the Fund, including its funded activities and its effectiveness and efficiency”;
2. Also recalls decision B.24/04 of the Board, endorsing the Board’s four-year workplan and policy cycle, noting the need to utilize the Fund’s periodic performance review as the starting point for a holistic overall policy review process in the third year of the replenishment (2023);
3. Further recalls decision B.27/06, paragraph (p), and the role of the reports from the Independent Evaluation Unit for the update of the Strategic Plan in the next replenishment;
4. Decides to initiate the second performance review of the performance of GCF for the GCF-1 programming period, in a manner appropriate to the current stage of GCF operations, while recognizing that GCF will be a continuously learning institution guided by processes of monitoring and evaluation;
5. Agrees that the scope of the second performance review will be to assess:
   1. Progress made by GCF in delivering on its mandate as set out in the Governing Instrument as well as in terms of its strategic and operational priorities and actions as outlined in the Updated Strategic Plan for 2020–2023, in particular the extent to which GCF has: responded to the needs of developing countries and the level of country ownership; the ability of GCF to catalyse public and private climate finance, including the use of financial instruments; and supported the building of institutional capacity in developing countries and accredited entities;
   2. Performance of GCF in promoting the paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways, including the effectiveness of the funded activities and its effectiveness and efficiency;
6. Takes note of the schedule of the second performance review as contained in document GCF/BM-2021/12; and
7. Approves a budget of USD 1,315,000 for the second performance review as contained in document GCF/BM-2021/12.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/10 titled “Appointment of member of the independent Technical Advisory Panel”:

Requests the Investment Committee to nominate an additional expert as member of the independent Technical Advisory Panel, with due consideration given to the geographic and specialty coverage in accordance with the updated terms of reference of the independent Technical Advisory Panel.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/07 titled “Administrative Remedies and Exclusion Policy”:

1. Approves the Administrative Remedies and Exclusion Policy set out in annex I to this document;
2. Requests the Head of the Independent Integrity Unit, in consultation with the Secretariat and under the supervision of the Ethics and Audit Committee, to develop:
   1. The Administrative Remedies and Exclusion Procedures;
   2. The Administrative Remedies and Exclusion Guidelines for the implementation of this policy;
   3. The Integrity Compliance Guidelines; and
   4. The Settlement Guidelines;
3. Also requests the Independent Integrity Unit and the Secretariat to elaborate on the staffing and budgetary requirements associated with implementing the Administrative Remedies and Exclusion Policy in drafting the Administrative Remedies and Exclusion Procedures; the Administrative Remedies and Exclusion Guidelines; the Integrity Compliance Guidelines; and the Settlement Guidelines; and also to seek the endorsement of the Budget Committee and approval of the Board for any staff positions or budget required, before approval by the Board of such procedures and guidelines;
4. Authorizes the Ethics and Audit Committee of the Board to address issues that may arise in the implementation of this Policy and to refer matters it deems appropriate for the consideration of the Board;
5. Requests the Independent Integrity Unit, in collaboration with the Secretariat, to provide a brief implementation report and to recommend possible amendments to this policy to the Board when the policy review is due as per the approved Board workplan and four-year policy cycle; and
6. Affirms the role of the Board in overseeing the implementation of this Policy.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/06 titled “Revised Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment”:

1. Reiterates the commitment of the GCF to the highest standards of integrity, including its zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment;
2. Takes note of the technical assessment of the Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment and the comparative analysis of the sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment safeguarding practices of international financial institutions contained therein;
3. Adopts the Revised Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment as set out in annex I to this document to replace the Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment adopted by the Board pursuant to decision B.23/16 and decision B.25/05;
4. Takes note of the revised Environmental and Social Policy as set out in annex III to document GCF/BM-2021/06, proposed to replace the Environmental and Social Policy adopted by the Board pursuant to decision B.19/10;
5. Takes note that the Secretariat is undertaking a public consultation process on the proposed revisions to the Environmental and Social Policy as set out in annex III to document GCF/BM-2021/06, including a minimum thirty day posting on the GCF’s website; and
6. Requests the Secretariat to present for the Board’s consideration, no later than its twenty-ninth meeting, the proposed revisions to the Environmental and Social Policy in respect of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/09 titled “Evaluation Policy for the GCF”:

1. Adopts the Evaluation Policy for the GCF as presented in annex I to this document;
2. Requests the Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) to develop standards in collaboration with the Secretariat, and requests the Secretariat, in consultation with the IEU, to develop monitoring protocols, toolkits and guidelines that take into account the Evaluation Policy and the integrated results management framework; and
3. Requests the IEU to present Updated Terms of Reference of the IEU, as an amendment to the Evaluation Policy, for consideration by the Board at its twenty-ninth session.

The Board, having considered document GCF/BM-2021/05 titled “Accreditation of observer organizations” and through a decision taken between meetings on a no-objection basis:

Approves the accreditation of the following organizations as observer organizations to the GCF:
 

Civil society organizations:
Public Services International (PSI)
Women Engage for a Common Future, International (WECF International)

Private sector organizations:
Pacific Legal Network (PLN)
Pula Advisors GmbH (PULA)