The Green Climate Fund's Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 7 March 2018 to enhance cooperation in institutional integrity issues and investigative activities in relation to prohibited practices.
The MoU complements the Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA) with SANBI, which contains a clause requiring the Accredited Entity to provide IIU with reasonable assistance in carrying out its functions, including promoting cooperation between the IIU and SANBI.
The cooperation agreement covers areas ranging from information-sharing to detection and prevention of fraud, corruption, and other prohibited practices, as well as practical modalities for joint investigations, privileges and immunities, and dispute resolution.
The Head of IIU, Ibrahim Pam, and the Lead, Climate Funds Unit of SANBI, Dr Mandy Barnett, signed on behalf of both parties.
IIU is in the process of establishing working relationships with integrity offices of other Accredited Entities, which could include setting up joint investigation models. The objective is to sign similar agreements with all entities accredited to GCF.