The mission of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is to promote the paradigm shift towards low- emission and climate-resilient development pathways by providing support to developing countries to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change, taking into account the needs of those developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. In fulfilling its mission and managing the resources committed to it, GCF is dedicated to maintaining the highest integrity standards in the conduct of its operations. In that regard, GCF recognizes the imperative to prevent and respond effectively to Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment (“SEAH”) and to protect persons, especially persons in vulnerable positions and situations and survivors of SEAH in GCF financed activities. These protections are essential to strengthen integrity and accountability throughout GCF. In that regard, GCF has zero tolerance for all forms of sexual wrongdoing including SEAH.

In decision B.25/05, the Board requested the Secretariat to present to the Board the proposed revisions of the Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment (SEAH Policy), in line with best practices among international financial institutions as well as the business model of the GCF, to assess the cost implications of implementation of the SEAH Policy, and to present to the Board for its consideration amendments to the relevant standards, safeguards and policies of the GCF, to address the requirements placed on accredited entities to integrate the obligations set out in the SEAH Policy.

Consistent with the Board’s decision at B.25, the Secretariat commissioned an independent technical assessment and comparative analysis 1 that examined the SEAH safeguarding approaches of several international financial institutions as well as comparable multilateral funds in order to benchmark and be informed on how to effectively implement the SEAH safeguarding provisions in GCF financed activities to be consistent with both best practice of international financial institutions and the business model of the GCF. This includes integrating SEAH provisions into the Environmental and Social Policy (ESP).