Strengthening climate adaptation for women and young entrepreneurs in Colombia and Ecuador

PROGRESAR+ aims to enhance climate resilience and economic well-being of women and young agri-entrepreneurs in the Andean-Amazonian regions of Colombia and Ecuador by targeting climate adaptation solutions. The objective is to increase the revenue of farming households while protecting and restoring the biodiversity of forest landscapes. Project activities include: (1) developing and aiding the implementation of nature-based and climate-smart agriculture and agro-forestry practices integrating traditional knowledge alongside innovative research and development; (2) supporting producer associations co-operatives and communities to optimize production economic well-being nature-based governance climate adaptation and biodiversity protection; (3) building the capacities of financial institutions to meet the needs of women and youth agri-entrepreneurs including through tailored products and services; and (4) working with government partners and development banks to promote and enable innovative climate financing in Colombia and Ecuador with a particular focus on smallholder enterprises and marginalized populations.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased adoption of climate-smart nature-based agroforestry solutions for climate change adaptation that support biodiversity by and for women and young agri-entrepreneurs particularly from vulnerable and indigenous communities; and (2) increased performance of financial system players in Colombia and Ecuador in supporting climate change adaptation by women and young agri-entrepreneurs particularly from vulnerable and indigenous communities and biodiversity in Andean-Amazonian forest landscapes.