More and better access to climate financing, a stronger voice in decision-making, and recognition of the critical role of family farmers in building sustainable and climate-resilient food systems.
Baku, November 11, 2024 – Amid a global climate crisis, the World Rural Forum (WRF) is participating in the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, which takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 10 to 22. This event is of particular significance for family farmers organisations, as one of the central themes of COP29 is climate financing, aimed at securing meaningful resources for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
At COP29, WRFs’ family farmers organisations will convey a clear message: with MORE and BETTER financing for family farmers, sustainable and climate-resilient food systems can be achieved.
Family farmers produce more than 80% of the world’s food by value and already invest approximately $368 billion annually from their own pockets in climate adaptation. Yet, small-scale family farmers receive only 0.3% of international climate financing, limiting their ability to expand sustainable practices that they are already implementing in their communities.
In addition to increasing the amount of funding, it is equally critical to enhance the quality of these funds. Fair and equitable partnerships must be established, in which family farmers are also recognized as strategic partners in designing and implementing financing instruments.
TOWARDS FINANCING THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF FAMILY FARMERS
Family farmers organisations possess the experience, infrastructure, and commitment necessary to drive climate resilience, but the current structure of international financing falls short. It is crucial to adapt these funds to the specific needs of family farmers organisations and strengthen their technical and administrative capacities.
To address these challenges, WRF calls for the creation of a Global Fund for Family Farmers Resilience as a dedicated mechanism tailored to the unique needs of family farms.
Moreover, it is essential for policies and plans to be developed not only FOR but WITH family farmers and their organisations. This approach will ensure that financing supports agroecological solutions and sustainable practices that family farmers have already begun implementing, which need to be scaled up to maximize their impact.
COP29 AND THE NEED FOR INCLUSIVE FINANCING
COP29 offers a crucial opportunity for governments and international entities to not only acknowledge the essential role of family farmers but also to establish tangible and effective commitments in terms of climate financing. In this regard, WRF, along with member family farmers organisations like COPROFAM, ESAFF and PDRR, calls on both public and private entities to recognize family farmers as a key allies in building sustainable and climate-resilient food systems. An inclusive political environment is crucial to enable family farmers to play an active role in the design and implementation of climate policies and financing mechanisms.
WRF’S KEY EVENTS AT COP29
To amplify these messages, WRF and family farmers organisations will participate in several key events at COP29:
- November 14: Leveraging Science to Finance Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems – Co-organized by WRF, CGIAR, PLACA, and WFO.
- November 16: Unlocking Access to Climate Finance: evidence from research and family farmers’ experience – Co-organized by WRF, OXFAM, and COPROFAM.
- November 18: Putting food on the table: Family Farmers at the heart of Climate Action – Co-organized by WRF, AFA, COPROFAM, ESAFF, INOFO, ILC, PAFO, PDRR, PFO, and PROPAC (#ActiononFood Hub).
- November 19 – Food Day at COP29: Farmer-led Event on Harmoniya grassroots-link Making Climate Finance Work for Farmers: On-farm experiences and concrete solutions – Co-organized by WRF, AFA, Farmers Forum, PAFO, and WFO.
