Dave Donnan’s Post

Who’s investing in climate adaptation for smallholder farmers? Climate adaptation takes a backseat to mitigation tools and services that account for 90% of climate financing, according to the Climate Policy Initiative. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gZfPZWBM #GlobalDevelopment #FoodSecurity #InnovationInAgriculture #CollectiveAction

Investment Gaps and Opportunities to accelerate effective Climate Adaptation among farmers include: 💎On-Farm and Post-Farm Infrastructure 💎Enabling Data and Intelligence 💎Adapted Inputs 💎Financial Services 💎Climate Adaptive Value Chain Actors 💎Ag Marketplaces #ClimateResilience #Adaptation #SustainableAg #SmallholderFarmers #FoodSecurity #EconomicEmpowerment

Check out the linked Forbes article, which articulates the many ways in which smallholder farmers (who have contributed the least and are arguably suffering the most from climate change) are being left behind in the climate financing conversation. Grateful for our many partners who are helping One Acre Fund to change this narrative; especially our incredible partners in restoration at Bezos Earth Fund and WRI (Emily Averna, Sean DeWitt, Will Anderson, Uzamukunda Assumpta).

As highlighted in our recent article (visit our page), Sub-Saharan African farmers urgently need attention and technology-based solutions tailored to their specific context, not imported ones. Poor climate financing is a clear sign that it is up to us, as Sub-Saharan Africans, to push for solutions that benefit us. We cannot wait for international gatherings that often overlook our interests. #ClimateFinance #SmallholderFarmers #Agritech #SustainableFarming #SubSaharanAfrica #LocalSolutions #IKIRARO #Agriculture

🌍 As negotiators finalize the new climate finance goals at #COP29, it is vital that smallholder farmers are included in the conversation. We've seen agriculture finally getting more attention at COP29, but as this powerful piece for Forbes by Daphne Ewing-Chow points out, less than 1% of climate finance reaches the farmers producing up to 35% of our food. 🔑 Why does this matter? Every dollar invested in smallholder resilience multiplies benefits— bigger harvests, fewer emissions, and thriving communities. 💬 As Michelle Kagari, our Senior Director of Government Relations and Partnerships, puts it: "They feed an estimated two billion people— roughly a quarter of the world’s population— so an investment in smallholder farmers is a direct investment in global food security.” Read more and join the conversation! 👇🏿

In what it describes as a landmark decision, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved funding for two transformative projects valued at $134 million, to support adaptation and enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural communities in Somalia and Iraq. These initiatives, spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will empower millions of farmers and pastoralists to adapt to the escalating impacts of climate change, including droughts, floods, and water scarcity. Welcoming the news, Kaveh Zahedi, Director of the FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, said: "FAO is very proud to have been selected by Somalia and Iraq to support them in their first single-country climate change investments. These two projects exemplify FAO's commitment to climate action through transforming their agriculture, especially by building resilient and sustainable agricultural systems in vulnerable and fragile contexts "By empowering vulnerable communities with the knowledge, tools, and technologies needed to adapt, we are investing in agrifood solutions that bring food security, support livelihoods, and help countries confront climate change." The project will introduce climate-adaptive infrastructure and farming practices to improve water-use efficiency and crop yields. Key activities include upgrading irrigation canals, installing solar panels on farmland, providing training in climate-resilient farming, and empowering women with knowledge of climate adaptation measures. The project aims to bring over 121,000 hectares of farmland under climate-resilient management. By enhancing the climate resilience of rural households, the initiative is expected to have a significant impact on food security and livelihoods in Iraq. It will directly benefit 2 million people, half of whom are women, and create employment opportunities for internally displaced persons. The project also has a broader goal of promoting sustainable development and knowledge transfer. By working with Iraqi ministries and universities, the project aims to integrate climate-resilient technologies and approaches into agricultural programs and policy planning. This will help to scale up climate adaptation efforts across the country and potentially even replicate successful practices in other countries in the region. (Source: FAO)

New report shows New Zealand out of step with climate change. A great report from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, who are calling for changes to New Zealand’s climate change policies on the back of new research showing New Zealand is out of step internationally in key areas. Tairāwhiti Whenua advocates strongly for local solutions in policy and regulatory changes championed by central government. The agricultural sector is committed to playing its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the rules need to be appropriate and fair. This study raises significant questions about New Zealand’s approach. https://lnkd.in/guDT-HJQ

Recap of my #worldsoilday here at UNCCD #COP16: I was honoured to start the day by delivering opening remarks on behalf of both the Action On Food hub and One Acre Fund at the CGIAR pavilion for the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) event about why soil health is foundational to the 3 Rio conventions (biodiversity, climate and desertification), how the Action on Food Hub community is making progress for food systems partnership based action across all conventions, and what this means for smallholder farmers writ large (and the significant gaps in big global promises vs delivery). With The Nature Conservancy at their event “The role of soil health in multifunctional landscapes and climate change” we discussed the challenges in context specific actions to improve soil health across whole landscapes and why climate change really threatens progress on so many levels - including geopolitical/cultural. This then linked to positive discussions with the Ambition Loop on the policy and finance linkages we could accelerate for COP30. Then back to the CA4SH team with IUCN for Leigh Winowiecki’s inspirational drive for soil health integration in food security discussions across conservation, private sector, and farmer organisations. She gave me free reign to highlight 1AF's climate finance campaign for smallholder farmers highlighting both the solutions and the costs associated with driving soil health improvements at scale. https://lnkd.in/e6tPcCTg Finally I wrapped up the day with The Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and Dr. Conrad Rein for the launch of their flagship food security initiative helmed by the Innovation Commission, via the humble but brilliant Michael Kremer, who is driving for evidence based action on soil health + food security solutions at scale with funders and governments alike. I am not a soil scientist and learnt a lot about how critical healthy soils really are for us all, and agreed with many today who said that the UNCCD convention should focus on all forms of land degradation, not just desertification. Most of the information I shared with this audience has been copy and pasted from the 1AF giants upon whose shoulders I stand and who are doing the real work: Margaret Vernon Stephen Aston Hepsiba Chepngeno Conde Lysa Uwizeyimana Patrick Bell Claire Brosnihan Caitlin Shaw Luke Viljoen, James Ellison and many others.

What do fair climate solutions look like on a local level? For MEDA, it means direct payments to smallholder farmers who incorporate carbon-capturing processes into their harvests around the world. From Western Africa to the Philippines, we’ve seen the impacts up close: https://ow.ly/OzxZ50Uc8mE As world leaders meet at COP29 in Azerbaijan, these are powerful examples of how international climate finance can change lives and help draw down greenhouse gas levels. #ClimateAction #Agriculture #Sustainability #MEDAImpact #COP29

At #COP29 this week, global leaders gathered to address the critical funding gaps for agrifood systems in fragile countries—a lifeline for communities on the frontlines of climate change. In this article, IISD captures this essential dialogue, highlighting the need for climate finance to strengthen food security and build resilience. Our senior director, Michelle Kagari, represented our commitment to smallholder farmers in discussions hosted by Green Climate Fund and FAO, sharing our approach to empowering farmers through sustainable practices like agroforestry and soil health initiatives. By equipping farmers to thrive amidst climate challenges, we strive to drive impactful change, but scaling these efforts requires robust financial support for agriculture. As the outcomes of COP29 unfold, let’s continue advocating for policies and funding that prioritize agrifood systems in vulnerable regions, underscoring the resilience and potential of smallholder farmers to lead sustainable solutions.