Kenyan President William Ruto, at podium, flanked by African leaders at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, September 6, 2023. Photo: Simon Maina

Nairobi has faced another setback, losing its second opportunity to host a key climate change hub.

The Santiago Network Advisory Board announced the decision to relocate the hub from Geneva to the Philippines, another Global South country like Kenya.

This announcement came just four months after Nairobi lost its initial bid to host the Loss and Damage hub for government climate negotiators.

As a result, Kenya will miss out on the significant financial benefits associated with hosting related agencies, such as the United Nations’ Africa headquarters and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

“The board decided to select the Philippines as the host country for the fund, subject to the country meeting the commitments made in its proposal,” the board stated at an official meeting on Tuesday.

In March, Nairobi protested the decision to settle on Geneva instead of Nairobi as the headquarters of the Loss and Damage hub.

The Loss and Damage Fund, created at a United Nations Climate Change Summit in Dubai last year, is a financing facility designed to help vulnerable countries cope with the increasingly costly and damaging impacts of climate disasters.

The selection of the host country for the Loss and Damage Fund Board took place during a closed-door meeting in South Korea on Tuesday.

This board will be responsible for operationalizing the multi-million dollar fund, including setting access modalities, allocation parameters, and resource mobilization strategies to deliver climate finance to vulnerable nations.

This disappointment comes one year after Kenya’s hopes were dashed when Nancy Karigithu, the country’s former Maritime Special Envoy, failed to secure a prominent role within the United Nations system.

This setback has once again highlighted criticisms of Kenya’s lobbying efforts for its candidates seeking positions in international agencies.

Despite Nancy Karigithu’s considerable experience and qualifications, the appointment for the four-year term as the next IMO Secretary-General was granted to Arsenio Antonio Velasco.

The news was a significant disappointment to Kenya, which had been actively supporting Karigithu’s candidacy.

This outcome highlighted the challenges faced by Kenyan candidates in securing influential roles within international organizations.

Karigithu’s candidacy involved building alliances and presenting Kenya as an African maritime powerhouse.

Kenya has long been criticized for its perceived inadequate lobbying efforts when it comes to securing positions for its candidates in international agencies.

The failure to effectively advocate for its representatives has raised concerns about the country’s diplomatic strategies and its ability to mobilize international support.

This missed opportunity serves as a reminder of the importance of strong lobbying efforts in the global arena.

Previously, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo lost her bid to become the first female President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development in 2022.

Omamo, seeking to exit President Kenyatta’s cabinet for the prestigious UN-founded agency position, lost to Spain’s Alvaro Lario, a champion of private sector investments who was serving as the agency’s top finance executive.

Omamo’s failure to secure the global seat followed weeks of silent lobbying from the government of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Unlike Monica Juma’s high-profile nomination for the post of secretary-general to the Commonwealth in late August last year, which included statements and a recorded video from President Kenyatta, Omamo’s nomination was a low-key affair.

The nation learned of her selection from the official website of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

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https://kenyanforeignpolicy.com/kenyas-setback-as-nancy-karigithu-fails-to-secure-un-agency-position/