Abuja (Nigeria): The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) has inaugurated a historic $ 250 million initiative aimed at supporting frontline communities in developing nations vulnerable to climate change impacts.
The announcement was made in a statement on Wednesday by the FRLD Secretariat and made available to the journalists, following the conclusion of the Fund’s 7th Board meeting in Manila.
The initiative, known as the Barbados Implementation Modalities (BIM), represents the Fund’s first operational funding call and marks a shift from planning to delivery.
Grants under the BIM will range from $5 million to $ 20 million per intervention, with the call for proposals scheduled to open on Dec. 1, 2025, and remain open until June 2026.
According to Mr Richard Sherman, FRLD Co-Chair, the Board meeting was historic, approving policies that will enable the Fund to deliver on its mandate and provide tangible support to vulnerable nations.
Similarly, FRLD Executive Director, Mr Ibrahima Cheikh-Diong, said that the initiative was country-led and locally driven, ensuring that interventions reflected the specific needs of affected communities.
The Board also addressed long-term funding needs, acknowledging that, while $768 million in pledges from 28 countries provides a starting point, resources remain insufficient.
Plans for a first replenishment in 2027 and development of a Resource Mobilisation Strategy were approved to secure additional funding.
With the inauguration of the BIM, the FRLD moves into a critical implementation phase, aiming to deliver immediate support for recovery and adaptation, and acting as a beacon of global solidarity for communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
