Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Systems Fund

This project aims to scale up gender-inclusive investment in agriculture and food systems that reduce poverty adapt to climate change risks and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through responsAbility’s Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Systems. The Fund provides long-term loans along with technical assistance for 20 to 30 agricultural small and medium enterprises (agri-SMEs) to support climate-smart interventions. These include sustainable land use in agriculture biodiversity conservation improved water efficiency reduced food loss and transition towards renewable energy in food systems. The Fund benefits stakeholders throughout agricultural value chains from farmers to processors to distributors. It seeks to help developing countries adapt to climate change and make food systems more resilient to crises and shocks. During the 10years of the fund this initiative expects to support 30 000 farmers (25% women) in adopting climate-smart practices. It seeks to reduce eight million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent which includes CO2 and other greenhouse gases (CO2e) compared to business as usual and sustainably transform 300 000 ha of land managed with climate-smart practices.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) enhanced investment viability of private capital in sustainable low carbon climate resilient and gender sensitive food systems projects through improved risk management while meeting return expectations; (2) enhanced adoption by Agriculture & Food businesses of gender-responsive climate-smart agriculture and food systems solutions for climate change mitigation adaptation and productivity; and (3) increased adoption by farmers of gender-responsive climate smart agriculture and food systems solutions that reduce biodiversity loss risks and improve environmental functions while increasing incomes from improved rural livelihoods.