On November 27, 2025, ClimateFiGS will host an online talk on the role of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in financing climate adaptation initiatives under the UNFCCC framework, featuring insights from a GCF project in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.
Learn more about the event and speaker below.
Speaker: Dr. Symonekeo Sensathith Thomas
Discussant: To be Communicated
Date and time: November 27th, 16:00-17:30
Location: Online (Participants to receive meeting links upon registration)
Register Here
About the Event:
In this talk, we will discuss the role of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in financing climate adaptation initiatives under the UNFCCC framework, with focus on the evaluation processes established for continuous improvement. The presentation will highlight a case study of a GCF project in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, an area both highly productive and vulnerable to climate change. The discussion will highlight the effectiveness of mangrove regeneration and resilient housing initiatives in addressing environmental challenges such as flooding and salinization.
By comparing the project’s objectives and outcomes, the presentation will highlight gaps in evaluation and propose key reforms to strengthen learning from experience. Participants will gain insights into how effective monitoring and evaluation can improve adaptation efforts and inform the design of more resilient strategies across developing regions..
About speaker:
Dr. Symonekeo Sensathith Thomas is a scholar-practitioner in sustainable international development, specializing in climate adaptation, finance, governance, and international cultural tourism. She holds a Doctor of International Affairs from Johns Hopkins SAIS, where her research on the Mekong Delta examined how post-project evaluation procedures and criteria for climate adaptations can be improved to enable continuous learning and better project design and execution.
She also earned a Ph.D. in International Cultural Tourism from Rikkyo University in Tokyo and an M.A. in International Relations from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. With over 20 years of experience across academia, international organizations, and consulting, she has taught at the National University of Laos and the Soutsaka Institute of Technology, and served as a visiting professor at Mahidol University (Thailand) and Sejong University (South Korea). She has conducted field investigations and worked as a consultant for the World Bank, the Government of Japan, and international NGOs.