Zakir Hossain Khan appointed civil society observer for WB's CIF

M Zakir Hossain Khan, chief executive of Change Initiative, has been designated as a Civil Society active observer for the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) Trust Fund Committee at the World Bank's Climate Investment Funds (CIF) for the 2025–2027 term.

Along with his appointment, his organisation, Change Initiative, has also been selected as an observer, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening climate governance and ensuring that climate finance reaches vulnerable communities, reads a press release.

Expressing his gratitude, Zakir Hossain stated, "It is an honour to contribute to CIF's decision-making process, representing civil society in shaping climate investment policies and ensuring accountability in climate finance."

He further emphasised the importance of this role, adding, "Our responsibility is to influence policy discussions, monitor CIF-financed projects, and advocate for financial mechanisms that prioritize climate-vulnerable countries. We are committed to collaborating with stakeholders to promote natural rights-led governance, ensuring equity, justice, and well-being."

As a CIF observer, Change Initiative will focus on four key areas: Influencing CIF policies and operational decisions at the global level; Shaping and monitoring national climate strategies to align with equity and sustainability principles; Enhancing transparency and accountability by tracking CIF-financed projects at the local level; Strengthening stakeholder engagement across global, regional, national, and local levels to foster knowledge sharing and inclusive climate action.