Revised Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment

The GCF's Revised Policy on the Prevention and Protection from SEAH mandates a zero-tolerance environment for sexual misconduct. It applies to 'Covered Individuals'—including Board members, officials, and personnel—who must undergo SEAH checks during recruitment and report suspected misconduct to the Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) or Ethics and Audit Committee (EAC). The policy provides survivor-centered protections, whistleblower remedies, and mandates mandatory training and triennial reporting to the Board.

• The GCF maintains a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment (SEAH), viewing such behavior as a violation of human dignity based on unequal power dynamics.
• The policy applies to 'Covered Individuals,' a group that includes Co-Chairs of the Board, Board Members, Alternate Members, Advisers, Board-appointed Officials (such as the Executive Director and Heads of the IEU, IIU, and IRM), External Members, and GCF Personnel.
• To prevent misconduct, GCF implements 'SEAH Checks' during recruitment and onboarding, requiring candidates to provide a 'SEAH Declaration' regarding their history of criminal convictions or disciplinary measures related to SEAH, which is then verified via reference checks.
• Covered Individuals are obligated to report suspected SEAH to the Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) or the Ethics and Audit Committee (EAC). Reports regarding GCF Personnel or most Board-appointed officials go to the Head of IIU, while reports regarding the Executive Director, Head of IIU, or Board leadership are submitted to the Chair of the EAC.
• The IIU is tasked with conducting investigations that are 'gender-responsive, survivor-centred, independent, and objective,' adhering to 'do-no harm' principles and ensuring protection against retaliation.
• Survivors of SEAH perpetrated by Covered Individuals are entitled to protections afforded to whistleblowers, including anonymity and confidentiality, and may request support such as medical services, psycho-social counselling, and guidance on reporting to local authorities.
• The GCF Secretariat is responsible for implementing the policy through an action plan that includes mandatory training for all Covered Individuals and the publication of the policy on the GCF website.
• The Ethics and Audit Committee, supported by the IIU and Secretariat, must present a report to the Board every three years regarding the policy's implementation and recommend necessary changes based on peer institution standards.

APA

Green Climate Fund (n.d.). Revised Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/seah-policy.pdf

Chicago

Green Climate Fund. Revised Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment. n.d. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/seah-policy.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Climate Fund |title=Revised Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment |url=https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/seah-policy.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greenclimatefundndrevised, author = {{Green Climate Fund}}, title = {{Revised Policy on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse, and Sexual Harassment}}, institution = {Green Climate Fund}, url = {https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/seah-policy.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }