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At its 21st meeting in October 2018, the GCF Board approved 19 new projects and programmes totaling USD 1.04 billion in GCF investment to support over USD 4 billion in climate action across more than 50 countries. The Board also accredited 16 new entities, appointed the World Bank as the Fund's Trustee, and launched the process for the GCF's first formal replenishment to be concluded by October 2019. Governance updates included the establishment of a Performance Oversight Committee and the appointment of Javier Manzanares as Executive Director ad interim.

As of 31 August 2018, the GCF pipeline included 103 funding proposals requesting USD 6.3 billion and 192 concept notes requesting USD 10.16 billion. The report details the distribution of these requests by sector, region, and theme, while also tracking the progress of the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot, the Project Preparation Facility (PPF), and several active requests for proposals (RFPs) including Enhanced Direct Access and REDD-plus result-based payments.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has released a draft outline for its Strategic Plan, designed as a 25-year roadmap to support science-informed policies and sustainable development in the Americas. The plan is structured around three themes: meeting the needs of member Parties, advancing a science agenda for regional sustainability, and ensuring the organizational sustainability of the IAI. Key priorities include food, water, and energy security, as well as the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services to mitigate climate change. The document also emphasizes cross-cutting goals such as open data, capacity building, and the inclusion of women, girls, and Indigenous Peoples.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) announces that the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) officially became an Associate of the Institute on 14 September 2018. This association was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the Science Diplomacy 2018 conference in Washington, D.C. The partnership aims to enhance science-diplomacy activities, providing the AAAS with direct channels to advise Parties and allowing the IAI to engage with AAAS initiatives, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is seeking extraordinary resources and technical support from Parties to reorganize its website and implement a more flexible and secure content management system, following Decision XXVI/43 adopted at the 26th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-26).

The report explores 17 case studies of financial instruments—including green bonds, social impact bonds, crowdfunding, and viability gap funds—to determine their applicability to soil remediation. It argues that while private capital is attracted to sites with high post-remediation land value capture, projects with lower commercial potential require public de-risking mechanisms, such as subsidies, guarantees, or performance-based returns, to become viable.

As of 30 April 2018, the GCF pipeline consists of 65 funding proposals requesting USD 3.9 billion and 183 concept notes requesting USD 10.9 billion. The report details the sectoral, regional, and thematic distribution of these requests, noting a strong presence of cross-cutting projects. It also assesses the status of the Project Preparation Facility, the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot, and specific requests for proposals including Enhanced Direct Access (EDA), MSME support, and REDD-plus. The GCF is implementing knowledge management improvements, such as NDA/AE portals, to increase transparency and processing speed.

The 46th meeting of the IAI Executive Council took place on 22 June 2018 in Antigua, Guatemala. The primary outcome was the election of a new EC Bureau, consisting of Mr. Gabriel Aintablian (Chair), Mr. Jean Pierre Ometto (First Vice-Chair), and Ms. Milagro Mainieri (Second Vice-Chair). The Council discussed the need for increased involvement in drafting an IAI Strategic Plan and the goal of re-engaging non-active Parties. Additionally, Ecuador expressed willingness to host the 47th and 48th meetings of the EC.

The 2nd Science-Policy Workshop of the IAI focused on integrating scientific research into policy across the Americas. Key discussions included the IPBES Regional Assessment for the Americas, the launch of the IAI Open Data initiative, and the development of a new 25-year Strategic Plan. The workshop also highlighted the role of science diplomacy and the impact of Collaborative Research Network (CRN3) projects on regional policy outcomes, such as water security and protected areas.

The 2nd IAI Science-Policy Workshop brought together researchers and policymakers to discuss the intersection of science and policy in the Americas. Key discussions included the IPBES regional assessment, the implementation of an Open Data Project, and the development of a new 25-year strategic plan for the IAI. The workshop also explored the role of science diplomacy and shared experiences from the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). Participants emphasized the need for better communication of scientific uncertainty to policymakers and the importance of incorporating traditional and indigenous knowledge into data systems.

The document outlines five recommendations for the IAI Conference of the Parties, focusing on the establishment of rules of procedure for the Science-Policy Advisory Committee, the coordination of joint committee meetings, the rescheduling of committee elections, and the development of a new IAI Strategic Plan.

The document presents four specific recommendations to the Conference of the Parties regarding the governance of the Science and Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), the coordination between SAC and SPAC, and the development of a new Strategic Plan for the IAI.

The report details the 2nd Joint Meeting of the SAC and SPAC in Antigua, Guatemala, focusing on the selection process for the Small Grant Program (SGP-HW) on ecosystem services, the need for hybrid transdisciplinary training, and proposals to restructure the SPAC as a sub-committee of the SAC to improve science-to-policy coordination.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) reports a critical financial situation for FY 2017-2018, with cash incomes representing only 52% of approved contributions as of 30 April 2018. While expenses were 9.9% lower than budgeted through February 2018—driven by a new economy-class travel policy and the termination of a consultancy in Argentina—the non-submission of voluntary contributions by several Parties is stressing the Directorate's ability to fulfill its mandate. The report also notes that the purchasing power of the Core Budget has decreased significantly since 1992 and that a proposed amendment to Article XIII regarding contribution increments has not yet entered into force.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) confirms that the CoP-26, EC-45, and EC-46 meetings in Antigua, Guatemala, will continue despite a volcanic eruption that occurred on June 3, 2018, as government authorities have reported that the situation has stabilized.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) submitted an independent auditors' report for the period ending June 30, 2017. The auditors provided an unqualified opinion, stating that the financial statements present fairly the Institute's financial position in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles. The IAI's total assets as of June 30, 2017, were 3,412,639 USD, and total revenues, gains, and contributions for the year were 3,047,200 USD. The report details funding for various scientific programs, including the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) and Training Institutes, largely supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The report provides an audit of the IAI's financial position, operations, and cash flows, concluding that the statements present fairly the Institute's financial position in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles. It details revenues from member nations and grants, expenses for core management and research programs, and the status of contributions from member countries.

This document is a participant list for the 26th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, which took place on 20-21 June 2018 in Antigua, Guatemala. It identifies delegates from various member nations, observers from non-party states and associated institutions, and representatives from scientific bodies such as the National Science Foundation and the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

The IAI Directorate Science reports on the final phase of the third Collaborative Research Network (CRN3), the launch of the Small Grant Program on ecosystem services and human wellbeing (SGP-HW), and the planning for the fourth Collaborative Research Network (CRN4). Key initiatives include a co-design process for climate adaptation in the megacities of Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Santiago de Chile, and a collaborative research framework with Argentina's CONICET. The Directorate is shifting toward a co-funding model to diversify science funding and is emphasizing transdisciplinary research aligned with international frameworks like the SDGs.

This briefing report from the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research outlines the committee's activities, membership updates, and planned meetings leading up to the 26th Conference of the Parties (CoP-26) in June 2018.