The Humanitarian Response programme provides financing for crisis response in regions experiencing the impact of climate change and where capacities to protect vulnerable populations are low. All funds will be evaluated by Board Member and Programme Expert Rikke Johannessen and an independent 4-member committee, with experience in fields of humanitarian assistance, local knowledge of Asia and the Pacific Region, climate change and natural disasters.
The NGO BRAC has been selected for the 2023 framework agreement for the programme. Find out more here.
“The first framework agreement has been made between the Askehave Climate Foundation and the NGO BRAC. We were particularly impressed by the Southern leadership model and the strong anchorage with disenfranchised communities in Bangladesh and Philippines, both countries that are vulnerable to climate change related weather events. The Board looks forward to following BRAC’s humanitarian response over the next three years, and anticipates that the partnership will support those most in need.”
Rikke Johannessen
BRAC has been selected as the partner organisation for 2023. Applications will be open for the next round during 2025 and organisations selected by the Programme Expert will be invited to apply.
Specialist Committee
Prof. Tasneem Siddique, University of Dhaka
Tasneem Siddiqui is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Dhaka and the founding Chair of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) the premier migration think-tank of Bangladesh. Her work on climate change adaptation and migration, disaster induced migration, drivers and impact of internal and international male and female labour migration, migration governance, diaspora, remittances, safe and sustainable cities inclusive to migrants, have been widely published.
Dir. Niall O’Connor, Stockholm Environment Institute
Niall O’Connor, Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute, Asia Regional Office, has over 20 years’ experience in environment and development senior leadership, programme management and academic work. Recognition of the importance of responsible implementation motivated Niall to shift to management of development programmes, where implementation can bring direct and immediate improvements to the lives of people in vulnerable communities.
Link to Niall’s bio on the Stockholm Environment Institute website
Dir. Sanjay Vashist, Climate Action Network South Asia
Sanjay Vashist has 24 years of working experience and is Regional Director of Climate Action Network South Asia. He has been actively working towards mobilized civil society action on Climate policies in the South Asian Region. Previously he has worked as Fellow with The Energy and Resource Institute in New Delhi; International Coordinator for Climate Action Network International (CANI) in Bonn and as Natural Resource Scientist with Development Alternatives in New Delhi – coordinating the activities of ENGOs network and acting as focal point for ENGOs constituency of observers under UNFCCC.
Koos Neefjesis, Climate Sense, Independent Consultant
Koos Neefjesis a senior climate change expert and director of Climate Sense (Viet Nam). Koos consults on climate change policies and practices; climate change adaptation and disaster risk management; as well as greenhouse gas emissions mitigation with a focus on renewable energy. He was Policy Advisor Climate Change with UNDP in Viet Nam until 2015, and worked with Oxfam Hong Kong in Viet Nam and Laos, and through the 1990s he was Policy Advisor Sustainable Development with Oxfam GB and did a secondment as manager in a humanitarian crisis.
Koos has written numerous publications, reports and papers, notably on sustainable livelihoods and climate change.
Our other programmes
Learn more about the policy and activism programme
Policy & Activism
The Policy & Activism programme is focused on funding NGOs, interest groups and think-tanks that are working to influence decision-making, at a policy or project level.
Learn more about the research and innovation programme
Research & Innovation
The Research & Innovation programme funds university-based research groups and academic institutions working on technologies, methods and theories that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or accelerate climate adaptation or mitigation.
Programme expert
Rikke Johannessen has extensive experience with change management, innovation, strategic planning and programme and policy development in the humanitarian sector, and currently works as an independent consultant. With a background in forced displacement and migration issues, Rikke has worked in senior management positions in fragile contexts worldwide. Rikke has held several senior global policy and programme functions with large NGOs, including responsibility for climate change related response and policy strategies.
