Dubai, United Arab Emirates
IFAD has advocated for climate finance and adaptation for many years. We will continue to do so at COP28, using this opportunity to amplify the voices of small-scale producers and promote their role in climate change responses and resilient food systems.
Small-scale farmers produce up to 70 per cent of the food in developing countries but receive a tiny fraction of climate finance. To eradicate poverty and food insecurity – and secure a brighter, greener future for all – small-scale farmers must be brought in to the centre of climate change discussions.
IFAD’s engagement at COP28 will focus around three themes:
The #AgriFoodPavilion
This year, IFAD is partnering with CGIAR, FAO and the Rockefeller Foundation to host a joint pavilion – a hub for discussing how agrifood systems can be part of the solution to the climate crisis while nourishing the world and providing decent livelihoods.
Bridging the Gap: IFAD's Role in Climate Finance for Smallholder
1 December | 15:30-16:30
This event aims to shed light on global climate finance, to underline the challenges and gaps, and to introduce innovative mechanisms to address these issues, with a focus on adaptation and nature financing for smallholder rural communities.
Launching the Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Financing Mechanism
2 December | 11:00-12:00
The Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Finance Mechanism (ARCAFIM) is a blended finance risk-sharing and technical assistance facility that catalyzes up to USD 700 million of private sector climate change adaptation investments to rural small-scale producers in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Rising Tides, Rising Voices: Addressing climate vulnerability in Small Island Development States
2 December | 15:30-16:30
Among those hardest hit by climate change in Small Island Development States are small-scale farmers and producers, who urgently need climate finance to innovate and adapt their production methods, ensuring food security in the face of an unpredictable climate.
Catalyzing Sustainable Food Futures: IFAD's Partnership with Civil Society Actors
3 December | 09:30-10:30
Rural civil society actors – including Indigenous Peoples, farmers’ organizations and young people – will discuss the importance of multi-stakeholder processes to enable diverse community-led actions for a sustainable food future, including ensuring access to climate finance for rural communities.
Recipes for Change
4 December | 12:30-13:30
Led by renowned Chef Pierre Thiam, this culinary journey will highlight the profound impacts climate change has on local communities and their traditional cuisines while presenting sustainable and locally sourced recipes that demonstrate the potential for small-scale actions for global impact.
Untangling the nexus between gender and climate with an innovative initiative: The Gender Transformative Mechanism in the context of climate adaptation
4 December | 17:00-18:00
Discover how gender equality isn't just a goal in itself but a strategy to a sustainable future. This event will explore innovative solutions and powerful stories of resilience, as well as presenting the gender transformative mechanism in the context of climate adaptation.
The Nexus for Water, Food and Energy (NWFE): Bridging the financing gap in climate adaptation programmes
5 December | 11:00-12:00
This event will showcase how national programmes can bridge the financial and collaboration gap in support of climate commitments. It will also explore blending modalities for climate finance, as well as Egypt’s efforts towards leveraging private sector finance for climate adaptation programmes.
Building resilience in fragile contexts: Lessons from the Sahel and Djibouti
6 December | 11:00-12:00
Changing weather patterns and decreased food production exacerbate insecurity and poverty in the Sahel, leading to mass migration and cross-border conflict. This session will look at how IFAD supports rural people and leverages natural resources in the region, featuring the perspectives of both implementing and investment governments as well as farmers.
Strengthening land tenure rights of smallholder farmers for sustainable food systems and climate resilience
8 December | 09:30-10:30
Ecosystem-based approaches to agriculture, which are predominantly used by small-scale farmers, can promote carbon sequestration and support biodiversity. This session will discuss the role of small-scale farmers in sustainable food systems, and highlight the need for secure land rights and access to finance to ensure more sustainable agriculture practices and healthier livelihoods.
Innovate for Change: Empowering Youth in Climate and Agribusiness
8 December | 15:30-16:30
Sherrie Silver, IFAD's Youth Advocate, will lead a dance and storytelling session that fuses creativity with climate action. Through her performance, she will emphasize the importance of rural youth and young agri-preneurs to combat climate change and drive innovation in agriculture.
Barriers and Levers to Scaling Nature-based Solutions for People and Planet
9 December | 14:00-15:00
Natural resource degradation threatens the viability of small-scale producers and rural communities. Nature-based solutions (NBS) reduce pressure on ecosystems, build climate resilience, enhance food security and generate financial returns. This event will discuss how to develop and scale community-driven NBS.
The Future of Food: How to sustainably keep our plates full?
10 December | 09:30-10:30
Ensuring sustainable food systems that can feed a growing population, while safeguarding the planet, is one of the biggest challenges in a generation. This event will explore innovative approaches to financing and private sector involvement.
Digital Innovations for Climate-Resilient Agriculture: A pathway to sustainable food systems
11 December | 11:00-12:00
Digital innovation can have a transformative effect on agriculture. This event will explore digital solutions for climate-smart agriculture, including mobile applications in Zambia, geographic information systems in Türkiye and precision agriculture in Kenya.
Agrifood systems transformation to achieve triple wins: for people, for climate and for nature
2 December | 18:30-20:00
Agrifood systems transformation is essential to achieving food security for all, while limiting global warming. This joint IFAD and FAO event will showcase how agriculture provides solutions to the climate crisis by safeguarding food security and ending hunger while leaving no one behind.
Strengthening Delivery: Aligning development, humanitarian and climate finance
3 December | 11:30-13:00
This event will explore how to align development, humanitarian and climate finance to ensure strategic coherence to effectively build resilience and respond to climate shocks. It will showcase how national programmes can bridge financial and collaboration gaps in support of climate commitments.
Advancing Adaptation and Climate Resilience through Evidence and Opportunities Lenses
3 December | 11:30-13:00
Increasing funding and supporting efforts to achieve the global goal of adaptation requires evidence, solutions, alliances and good practices of international climate institutions. Join us to discuss the opportunities of climate resilience and adaptation in Latin America & the Caribbean and beyond.
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