Jo Puri, Ph.D

The first in-person authors' and Advisory Board meeting of the #RDR2025, Rural Development Report 2025, titled ''Financing for Rural Transformation'' occurred in #Rome this week. On behalf of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) as the lead agency, we welcomed the entire team and we spent it discussing, writing and sharing. We are getting ready for launch just before the #FFD summit in Spain in July 2025 (#Financing for Development). So watch this space. Some key things already important/emerging: 1. Despite 3.5 billion (47%) people living in rural areas today, there is almost no data on rural people and rural areas. In 2050, this number will still be large (3 billion!) 2. Despite 80% of the poor (AND 80% of the extremely poor) living in #rural areas, we dont know what we need in terms of financing for basic needs (or for #SDGs). Is this millions or billions or trillions? (Any guesses?) 3. What we dont measure, we dont treasure. 4. So far, a large part of development thinking, has positioned rural areas as subservient to urban ones (the main argument being economies of scale/aggregation). We dont, have any idea what an empowered, strong, thriving rural transformation, could look like. 5. That argument changes dramatically, if we consider that with disaggregated, high frequency, data we can use the high fragmentation, to create ''e-scale economies'': Billions of data points representing lots of agents, helps us hedge, invest, and insure better at the meso/meta level. Suddenly, its actually important to have lots of small disaggregated farms and businesses rather than large ones. Small becomes truly beautiful. 6. Rural areas can be an #investment opportunity, BECAUSE, they have fewer #stranded assets, and there is the opportunity of creating new markets. 7. Rural areas represent the opportunity to re-imagine our future! Rural transformation means areas are PERC (Prosperous, Equitable, Resilient and Connected). Our fantastic advisory board: (In picture) Shenggen Fan, Ana María Ibáñez, Chris Clubb, Lee Ann Jackson, Louise Fox, Patricia Ojangole; We missed Johan Swinnen and @thomas Reardon. Our authors (global/regional): Adolfo Brizzi, @Niklas Kesseler, Joel Moktar, Jan Priebe Narasimhan Srinivasan, Hezekiah Agwara, Randa Hamza, Nick Maddock, Miguel Robles (and their teams), Nadia Martinez, MBA, Saib Ahmad, Alexia Ipiotis Mikhail Kourenkov and myself. We have excellent support (physical, academic, mental and in spirit and in humor) from Dr. Alvaro Lario, Gerardine Mukeshimana, Constanza Di Nucci, Alessandra Garbero, Rick Van Der Kamp, Gulnara Yunusova, Claudia ten Have, Malek Sahli, Stephanie Micallef, Caterina Firova, Alexandra Enascut, Federica Cerulli Irelli, @Ronald Hartman and many others. Special thanks to EIIS - European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability and Andrea Geremicca for their stewardship. It takes a village.

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As #COP16 approaches, don’t miss these two great pieces by Ruth Davis #KMGBF #naturefinance published by @TESSForum on: 👉 The Transition to an Economy That Values Nature, in a policy brief: https://bit.ly/4eBkuJu 👉 Reforming Financial Systems & the Transition to an Economy That Values Nature, in our Synergies series: https://bit.ly/3TMl3Ib Together, she highlights: ➡️ why the value of healthy ecosystems & a thriving #biodiversity is not reflected in investment decisions due to sustained market failure ➡️ why fundamental reforms are needed to tilt financial incentives away from nature's destruction towards its protection & restoration ➡️ why the future landscape for #naturefinance needs to be shaped by those who are on the front line of #nature protection https://bit.ly/4eBkuJu

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The Peace-Led Climate Friendly Sustainable Development Forum The literature landscape on peace–sustainability nexus: A scientometric analysis https://lnkd.in/gdyw7i7G

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How should food systems be reflected in the next round of NDCs? Check out our latest paper: "NDCs 3.0: Critical Demand-Side Action to Reflect Existing Food and Climate Commitments" https://lnkd.in/gEyKX6Mm Special thanks to my colleagues who made this work possible, Amelia Linn and Sebastian Osborn from Mercy For Animals, Mariana Bernal from The Good Food Institute, and Stefanie McNerney from Humane Society International #UNFCCC #ClimateChange #SB60

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Innovation Forum insights – The financial frontier of climate transition: building agricultural resilience in Brazil. Niamh McCarthy from Orbitas, a Climate Advisers initiative, talks about the financial implications of climate transitions, focusing on forest, land use and agriculture sectors. We discuss key findings from a new report by Orbitas and discuss how companies and investors can mitigate risks, leverage climate-smart innovations and seize emerging opportunities while contributing to global climate goals. https://lnkd.in/ej2vGAWj

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🌍 The latest UN Environment Programme Emissions Gap Report reveals a concerning reality: current climate pledges would only reduce emissions by 4-10% by 2030, far below the 42% reduction needed for 1.5°C pathway. However, the upcoming 2025 NDC revision cycle offers a crucial opportunity to bridge this gap. Some thoughts on three key strategic priorities emerging in this short piece, Closing emissions gap with 2025 NDC Revisions: Critical Opportunities for Climate Action. The tools exist - now we need unprecedented political will to deploy them. Read more to discover how countries can develop NDCs that both raise ambition and create practical implementation pathways. #ClimateAction #Sustainability #ParisAgreement #ClimatePolicy #EmissionsGap #ClimateFinance

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🌱 💡New publication on the #EquityPrinciples in Agricultural Systems - a set of guidelines that can help donors, researchers, and implementers innovate and scale for positive social outcomes. 🌱 🌟 Agricultural Innovation Systems and Agricultural Research for Development tools often overlook key social theories. Our systematic exploration identifies critical gaps, aiming to enhance AIS and AR4D effectiveness in achieving the #SDGs. This work provides new #AIS theoretical insights and practical guidance for #AR4D practitioners. 📈 Equity Principles for Social Transformation: 1) Recognize AR4D Power Dynamics 2) Define Goals and Anti-Goals 3) Build Global “Horizontal” Partnerships 4) Acknowledge Social Differences among Innovation Users and Non-Users 5) Innovate and Curate Innovation Appropriately 6) Assess Impact and Reflect 7) Develop Inclusive Systems Capacity ➡ Huge congrats to my brilliant co-authors: Eva Valencia, MAHA Al-ZU'BI, Ph.D., María Boa, Giang Luu Thi Thu, and Janelle Sylvester. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) for their funding and support of this work. We also thank USAID and CGIAR or their reflective contributions on their own innovation and scaling systems. Additionally, we appreciate the many colleagues who reviewed the #EquityPrinciples. **Stay tuned for webinar and information products to integrate these into your institutions and research.** For now, if you're interested in engaging with #EquityPrinciples, sign-up here: https://lnkd.in/efn57kff #SDGs #InnovationImpact #InnovationEquity #ScalingEquity #ResponsibleResearch

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How do we plan and design interventions that deliver for climate and for development, making climate investments more transformative? How do we ensure that communities are always at the center of investment processes and their needs are prioritized?     CIF's Transformational Change Learning Partnership has outlined 7 guiding principles to kick-start #climatefinance programs that deliver transformational outcomes.    📒 Download the full study and learn more about how CIF is driving collaboration and generating new knowledge on transformational climate finance ➡ https://lnkd.in/ewzPPBAe.      #Transform4Climate  MIKE WARD - Climate Action, Neha Sharma, Alfredo Villavicencio Vieira, Tim Larson, Janelle J. Roberts, Angela Cruz

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Journalists interested in learning more about the climate finance gap can attend World Resources Institute’s webinar on Oct. 23, featuring a panel on how to approach the politically sensitive issue and tools to ensure a fair approach. https://buff.ly/3Y44KYk

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I just learned about a report called #BestBets by Innovations for Poverty Action thanks to a call with Elizabeth Koshy. The report looks at the innovations that are "supported by solid evidence....and have some commitment from partners." But to take these emerging innovations forward, there is still a need to address key questions around cost-benefit, efficient delivery /distribution, targeting, long-term impacts, and so on. I was speaking to Elizabeth about the evidence linked to entrepreneurship and MSMEs. The two big bets in this report linked to that space are: 📢 Soft-skills training to boost business profits and sales 📢 Consulting services to support small and medium-sized businesses I know so many organizations working on these issues. How can we make sure that a learning agenda is integrated so that benefits can go beyond just the implementing agencies. Flagging this to colleagues at Access to Finance Rwanda and Mastercard Strive. https://lnkd.in/e-_9uxuC

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📢 NEW BLOG: For many Small Island Developing States, financing sustainable development remains a challenge. Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF) can provide a roadmap for financing national development priorities towards achieving the SDGs. With national governments in the lead, the INFF process facilitates insight into readily available financing, and identifies risks and structural constraints to guide strategic reform. Our latest blog explores how #Seychelles can use INFFs to bridge the development finance gap. Read More 👇 https://lnkd.in/daHWHcnE INFF Facility UNDP #SIDS4

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IWMI facilitates dialogue as Nepal works to amend its key water legislation Experts call for legislation that is holistic, inclusive and timely to address critical issues regarding sustainable use of water resources. https://lnkd.in/dDKgP-y7

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IWMI facilitates dialogue as Nepal works to amend its key water legislation Experts call for legislation that is holistic, inclusive and timely to address critical issues regarding sustainable use of water resources. https://lnkd.in/dDKgP-y7

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The work for lasting systemic change calls on social impact funders to regularly reevaluate and map out strategies across a changing, complex landscape. Learn how funders can reflect, review and refine their portfolios to leverage progress. https://bit.ly/49wjOTT

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New Profit, through its Catalyze cohort in Unlocked Futures, will provide $100,000 of one-year unrestricted funding, $10,000 of funding for leadership development, and strategic advisory support to ten innovative nonprofit organizations focused on expanding access and opportunity in America.  The Unlocked Futures cohort will provide funding to organizations led by justice-impacted social entrepreneurs to increase visibility and remove barriers to capital for justice-impacted individuals and communities, including those who have been incarcerated or detained in a prison, immigration detention center, local jail, juvenile detention center, or any other carceral setting, those who have been convicted but not incarcerated, those who have been charged but not convicted, and those who have been arrested (LSAC).

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At #WWCS2024, #CLimateAdaptationREsilience (CLARE) advanced the conversation on how action-oriented research is supporting inclusive #ClimateAdaptation and resilience. Discover "what works" for climate research with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and IDRC: https://bit.ly/3R6w8mY

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The IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) is now two years old. The demand for new RSF programs appears to be declining despite the significant climate finance needs in many lower- and middle-income countries. To enhance the RSF’s appeal, Victoria Diamond and I propose three recalibrations to program design in the attached policy brief: https://lnkd.in/efEK4yeZ

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