Santiago Network
The Santiago Network was established under the Warsaw International Mechanism for loss and damage (WIM) in 2019 as a mechanism to catalyse technical assistance (by relevant organizations, bodies, networks, and experts, or OBNEs), to avert, minimize and address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change at the local, national, and regional level. The technical assistance is for developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. To streamline the process, terms of reference for the Santiago Network were adopted in 2022, including establishing its hosted secretariat to coordinate its functions, an Advisory Board to provide oversight and guidance, and a network of members to provide technical assistance.
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) were selected as the hosts of the Santiago Network Secretariat in 2023. The Santiago Network Secretariat administers, through UNOPS, the funds provided to the Santiago Network to support technical assistance, in accordance with the respective regulations and rules of UNOPS.
Technical assistance through the network will be provided in a demand-driven manner and developed through an inclusive and country-led process, taking into account the needs of vulnerable people, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The Santiago Network is further guided by six functions. Among them:
Effective implementation of the functions of the WIM;
Catalysing demand-driven technical assistance, including by identifying, prioritizing, and communicating technical assistance needs and priorities;
Facilitating and catalysing collaboration, coordination, coherence and synergies among OBNEs to deliver technical assistance effectively and efficiently;
Facilitating the consideration of a wide range of topics;
Facilitating the development and sharing of knowledge and information on loss and damage; and
Facilitating access to finance, capacity building and technology through technical assistance.
The scope of technical assistance includes a wide range of topics relevant to averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with climate change. Requests for technical assistance are further guided by the Guidelines and procedures for responding to requests for technical assistance that articulate the criteria governing requests for technical assistance, and the process for making and responding to requests, as well as provide the template for developing countries to submit requests. OBNEs designated as members of the Santiago Network will be able to respond to these requests in keeping with the established open and transparent process. The provision of technical assistance must also be aligned with the Guidelines on preventing potential and addressing actual and perceived conflicts of interest in relation to the Santiago network.
Country and policy context
Namibia has been experiencing high frequency and intensity of droughts and floods. Between 1992 and 2024, Namibia declared a state of emergency on account of drought on six occasions. Moreover, communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable, and a significant number has been pushed into extreme poverty by recurrent climate-related disasters. The 2024/25 drought was particularly severe, and has been described as the worst disaster the country has ever experienced, as it left approximately 42% of the population food insecure. In 2024/2025, as part of the nationwide drought relief programme, the government redirected approximately N$1,9 billion (equivalent to USD 89 million) of its national resources earmarked for development to support affected communities. It is against this background that support is requested to assist the country to build a long-term solution to these recurrent disasters, especially droughts and floods.
Challenges that continue to affect the country’s actions relating to losses and damages, some of which are noted above, include the following:
Lack of financing frameworks and sufficient finance to support country response to disasters and resources for affected communities to build back better;
Lack of an integrated multi-hazard early warning system to support effective anticipatory action anchored on a clear institutional and policy framework;
Limited human and financial capacities to support recovery efforts to restore communities after disasters;
Growing impact from loss and damage that forces resources earmarked for resilience and development to be redirected to disaster response activities.
In future, such losses and damages could be significantly minimized if the country had well-structured and coordinated early warning systems in place to support anticipatory actions. To address the country’s fragmented early warning components, there is a need for an integrated multi-hazard early warning framework upon which development of an integrated multi-hazard early warning system will be anchored. This framework will enhance risk informed planning and decision making.
A number of policy documents outline the needs and priorities for Namibia in the context of climate change and loss and damage. Namibia’s Nationally Determined Contribution prioritises the development of a multi-hazard early warning system. Disaster risk management policies and the national development plan help streamline climate and disaster risk reduction and promote community resilience.
While policies have established relevant institutions and management frameworks, Namibia requires technical assistance to further strengthen its coordination capacity around loss and damage, particularly with regards to planning, financing and implementing related initiatives.
Background documents relevant to the call for proposals:
Nationally Determined Contribution
National Disaster Risk Management Policy (2009) and the Disaster Risk Management Act No. 10 of 2012
Sixth National Development Plan
National Risk Profile
The objective of the technical assistance is to develop a framework that provides the institutional anchoring of an integrated multi-hazard early warning system. It is envisaged that an early warning framework to be developed through this technical assistance from the Santiago Network will complement efforts to access the Green Climate Fund to develop an integrated multi-hazard early warning system by anchoring that system institutionally. Ultimately, the achievement of this objective is expected to increase the resilience of communities to withstand and cope with climate-induced risks.
Santiago Network MembershipWhile membership in the Santiago Network is not a prerequisite for selection, the successful expert will be expected to achieve or maintain membership prior to commencement of the assignment, in line with the Santiago Network’s Guidelines for OBNEs. Please find more information on becoming a member here. To become a member of the Santiago Network, please register on the Santiago Network portal, then complete and submit your expression of interest. You can upload all attachments directly to the form in the portal.
The Technical Assistance Consultant will originate and develop a framework that provides the institutional anchoring of an integrated multi-hazard early warning system for Namibia. This involves innovating and creating novel approaches to address the country’s specific needs and challenges related to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The consultant will provide expert advice, lead substantive components of the technical assistance, and drive improvements in the country’s capacity to avert, minimize, and address loss and damage.
1. Early Warning Framework Development
2. Validation and Training Material Development
3. Santiago Network Membership
