Zakir Hossain named civil society observer for WB's Climate Investment Fund

Zakir Hossain Khan, along with Change Initiative, has been appointed as the Civil Society Observer for the World Bank's (WB) Climate Investment Fund (CIF).

Rezaul Haque Hiron, public relations officer for Change Initiative, shared this information in a press release on Thursday (February 6).

According to the release, M Zakir Hossain Khan, CEO of Dhaka-based Change Initiative, will serve as the Civil Society Observer for the Strategic Climate Fund Committee of CIF from 2025 to 2027. Additionally, Change Initiative has been named the official observer organization of CIF.

This appointment strengthens the organization's role in enhancing climate governance and ensuring transparency in climate finance.

Regarding the appointment, M Zakir Hossain Khan expressed his gratitude, saying, "It is an honor to represent civil society in CIF's policy and decision-making process. We aim to actively promote transparency, inclusivity, and effectiveness in climate investment policies. We will advocate for greater accountability in climate finance and for the creation of appropriate financing mechanisms for climate-vulnerable countries."

He also emphasized, "We are committed to developing a policy framework, in collaboration with stakeholders, that promotes natural rights-based justice and addresses climate change risks effectively."

As an observer to CIF, Change Initiative will focus on four key strategic areas: 1) Contributing to CIF's global policy and strategic decisions; 2) Reviewing and monitoring national climate strategies and policies to ensure fairness and sustainability; 3) Promoting transparency and accountability in CIF-funded projects at the local level; and 4) Strengthening engagement with stakeholders at global, regional, national, and local levels to share knowledge and promote inclusive climate action plans.