During COP28, the Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) hosted two side events in the Blue Zone that were geared towards engaging with our partners to gain new insights. In addition, IIU participated in a panel hosted by UNCTAD and the World Trade Organisation. The IIU delegation consisted of IIU Head Karen Ernst and Outreach & Engagement Manager Bayartsetseg Jigmiddash.
The two side events, both of which took place on 10 December, focused on partnerships and how these can be used to leverage the impact of integrity and anti-corruption efforts.
![]( "From left to right: Faustin Munyazikwiye, Claudia Godfrey, Nawa Raj Dhakal, Hong-Thuy Paterson, Karen Ernst, and Bayartsetseg Jigmiddash")
From left to right: Faustin Munyazikwiye, Claudia Godfrey, Nawa Raj Dhakal, Hong-Thuy Paterson, Karen Ernst, and Bayartsetseg Jigmiddash
The first event was co-hosted with the Government of Rwanda at the Rwanda Pavilion. Hong-Thuy Paterson, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at GCF, gave a keynote address. One highlight of her remarks was an emphasis on the ways that the updated GCF strategic plan will provide increased support for Direct Access Entities (DAEs) in regard to capacity building, including on integrity topics.
Karen then moderated a panel session with Faustin Munyazikwiye, the Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (the National Designated Authority in Rwanda); Nawa Raj Dhakal, the Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (a DAE in Nepal); and Claudia Godfrey, the Director of Innovation and Strategic Management at Profonanpe (a DAE in Peru). The discussions focused on lessons learnt in considering integrity while implementing GCF projects, especially for other DAEs or organisations involved in GCF projects.
![]( "From left to right: Karen Ernst, Anselm Duchrow, Mirey Atallah, Amjad Bany Issa, and Ferdian Yazid")
From left to right: Karen Ernst, Anselm Duchrow, Mirey Atallah, Amjad Bany Issa, and Ferdian Yazid
The second event was hosted by IIU and held at the SDG Pavilion and was designed to identify practical approaches for enhancing collaboration between multiple entities, including governments, Civil Society Organisations, international organisations, and other key stakeholders. Karen moderated the panel session, which featured Mirey Atallah, the Chief of the Nature for Climate Branch at UNEP; Ferdian Yazid, the Program Manager of the Natural Resources and Economic Governance Department at Transparency International Indonesia; Amjad Bany Issa, a Climate Justice Advocate and EU Jeel Connector; and Anselm Duchrow, the Cluster Coordinator Environment & Climate at GIZ Morocco. The panelists discussed how they engage with stakeholders in their various projects around the world, with special emphasis on consultations with youth and civil society.
![]( "Karen Ernst (second from left) speaks at an UNCTAD/WTO event.")
Karen Ernst (second from left) speaks at an UNCTAD/WTO event.
Finally, Karen participated on a panel during a side event hosted by UNCTAD at the Trade House Pavilion on trade and investment policy to advance the implementation of climate goals. During her interventions, Karen emphasised the important role of integrity in strengthening trust and collaboration between countries, which can boost international efforts. She also highlighted GCF’s strategy of supporting country ownership of GCF projects to help further climate change action globally.
Please visit the YouTube channels for the Trade House Pavilion and the IIU to watch replays of the UNCTAD and SDG Pavilion sessions, respectively. The event at the Rwanda Pavilion was not livestreamed.