Who is behind VCMI?
From March to mid-July 2021, the early scoping and consultation phase of VCMI was conducted by a Consortium led by Meridian Institute, a US-based non-profit consultancy that specialises in facilitating complex, multi-stakeholder processes. Climate Focus, Trove Research, and a secondee from the Food and Land Use (FOLU) Alliance provided technical advice and support.
From July 2021, a new governance framework takes effect to guide VCMI through the next phase of work to April 2022. This includes a Steering Committee as VCMI’s high-level decision-making body, co-chaired by Rachel Kyte, Dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University, and Tariye Gbadegesin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment.
The wider VCMI governance structure is designed to create transparency, build trust, and ensure diverse stakeholders have opportunities to provide input. This includes an Expert Advisory Group, a Country Contact Group, and Multi-Stakeholder Consultation Contact Groups that will include representatives from businesses, civil society and Indigenous Peoples’ organizations.
We are looking to develop a pooled fund from interested donors to support additional research and capacity-building in line with VCMI’s mission. This would be overseen by a Grants Committee.
Meridian Institute’s role will shift from managing a consortium during the initial scoping and consultation phase to serving as the VCMI Secretariat.