Acumen

We're thrilled to announce Acumen’s $90 million climate finance commitment for Pakistan, unveiled at #COP29. This first-of-its-kind initiative focuses on supporting growth-stage agribusinesses with blended finance to create a sustainable future for 13 million smallholder farmers by 2035. Why now? Pakistan’s agricultural sector, employing half the workforce and contributing to 77% of exports, faces severe climate impacts that threaten GDP and livelihoods. This new commitment is part of our broader $300M global agricultural adaptation strategy. As Dr. Ayesha Khan, Acumen’s Pakistan Managing Director, shared: “Our rapidly evolving climate requires creative financing and bold thinking. With this commitment, we hope to lay a resilient foundation for Pakistan to adapt and thrive.”

Through the company he co-founded, Acumen investee d.light, Nedjip Tozun and his team have helped bring clean power to 30 million homes across 72 countries. For his efforts, he has been named in this year’s Time 100 Climate list. Congratulations to Nedjip on this well-deserved recognition! Learn more about d.light and what Nedjip believes holds the key to a greener future. https://lnkd.in/drMd8xNF

Today at #COP29, IFC - International Finance Corporation announced a new partnership with Acumen's Hardest-to-Reach initiative to expand energy access in sub-Saharan Africa's least electrified communities. To celebrate this milestone, Acumen CEO Jacqueline Novogratz joined IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop in a fireside chat on the ground at COP to discuss how blended capital and partnerships between institutions like Acumen and the World Bank’s M300 initiative can build resilient energy markets and accelerate climate adaptation for the world's most underserved. Read the announcement here:

Yasmina Zaidman and Lauri Robbins Ericson of Acumen will be participating in The Impact Office (TIO)'s House of Impact event this coming Tuesday in Helsinki. Yasmina will be speaking on a panel about philanthropy as a strategic tool to de-risk impact investments while Lauri will be moderating a panel on emerging markets and their unparalleled opportunities for growth and innovation. Please see the post below for additional information about the event. See you there!

Acumen is proud to announce a $300M commitment to agricultural adaptation across East & West Africa, India, Latin America, and Pakistan. With only 1% of climate finance going to agrifood adaptation, we have an opportunity to drive significant impact. Our commitment, supported by Partners like the Green Climate Fund, IKEA Foundation , and UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office aims to help 40 million smallholder farmers with climate-resilient practices and help feed 1 billion people by 2030. This commitment is a step closer to closing the adaptation gap, creating sustainable solutions, and building a fairer food system. Check out this feature on Bloomberg to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eqa4SRiP

Nearly 600 million people across Africa live without access to electricity, impacting health, education, and economic growth. At #COP29, join Acumen Founder and CEO Jacqueline Novogratz and IFC - International Finance Corporation Managing Director Makhtar Diop for a fireside chat about how innovative financing and partnerships are accelerating energy access for Africa’s least-electrified communities. 📅 November 14 | 17:15-18:15 UTC+4 📍 Baku, WBG Pavilion | Or watch live here: https://lnkd.in/df6RmPFe

Acumen Founder and CEO Jacqueline Novogratz joined the Women Leading on Climate - Dialogue and Reception at #COP29, where influential women leaders from across the globe came together to amplify their collective impact on the climate crisis. Jacqueline contributed to meaningful conversations on driving ambitious national climate plans, innovative financing for the Global South, and the urgent need to empower women’s leadership in the fight against climate change. At Acumen, we are proud to stand with the incredible women at the forefront of climate action, working to create a sustainable and equitable future.

At #COP29, Jacqueline Novogratz  joined global leaders at The Green Climate Fund side event to discuss the urgent need to reimagine our financial systems to center our shared humanity.  “For too long, climate finance has overlooked and underestimated those who have contributed least to climate change, yet have been disproportionately impacted by its effects,” she said.  Jacqueline highlighted the critical role the private sector must play in driving bold, collaborative action and scaling finance for climate resilience. As countries and institutions work to meet the climate goals outlined in the Paris Agreement, a more inclusive, efficient, and transformative financial system is essential—one that can deliver the resources needed to support vulnerable communities and ensure a sustainable future for all. This discussion underscored the importance of partnerships across sectors, including the private sector, philanthropies, and multilateral institutions, to mobilize the collective action necessary for impactful climate solutions.

At this year's COP, Acumen is stepping up with significant commitments, driven by the belief that impactful solutions must be met with collaborative action. As Acumen's Director of Energy Partnerships, Sarah Bieber puts it, "Acumen is coming to the table with big commitments and investments, and we want to see others come in with real-world solutions." We're at #COP29 to partner, learn, and push for the meaningful progress our planet and communities need. Follow us here to see what we are up to in Baku over the next two weeks.

Conversations at COP are critical in shaping a future where no one is left behind. As we head into #COP29, we celebrate Mafalda Duarte, Executive Director of The Green Climate Fund , for her unwavering commitment to making a just transition to a low-carbon economy a reality and proving that where there is a woman there is a way.