CIFAR WG Report Latest 1

This report by the CIFAR Alliance Investors Working Group explores how fintech innovations—specifically in data and digital infrastructure, online marketplaces, and insurtech—can scale climate resilience solutions for vulnerable communities in emerging markets. It presents 11 case studies of ventures that address both acute weather-related disasters and chronic long-term climate changes affecting livelihoods.

• Fintech is identified as a critical enabler for increasing the accessibility and affordability of climate resilience products for underserved, last-mile populations by utilizing digital payments, satellite data, and embedded finance infrastructure.
• The report categorizes climate resilience innovations into three fintech verticals: data and digital infrastructure, online marketplaces, and insurtech, which are used to combat both acute disasters (e.g., floods, hurricanes) and chronic changes (e.g., sea level rise, temperature increases).
• Insurtech ventures are addressing the 'massive insurance gap' in emerging markets through parametric and index-based products. For example, Floodbase uses satellite data to provide high-resolution flood mapping (down to 30cm) in real-time, while Pula distributes insurance through partners in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
• Digital marketplaces are being used to improve the livelihoods of small-scale producers by removing middlemen and increasing traceability. Abalobi in South Africa connects fishers directly to restaurants, and Aquarech in Kenya provides a marketplace for high-quality aquafeed and connects fish farmers to off-takers.
• Blockchain and Web3 technologies are being applied to standardize carbon removal monitoring and supply chain transparency. Open Forest Protocol (OFP) targets 10 million hectares for carbon credit management by 2030, and Top! provides a public, permissionless blockchain for verifying sustainable practices.
• Tech-enabled solutions are targeting waste management and land tenure to build resilience. Bekia in Cairo uses a digital wallet to incentivize waste recycling, while Meridia provides formal land titles to smallholder farmers to provide tenure security and unlock investment.

APA

FSD Africa (n.d.). CIFAR WG Report Latest 1. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CIFAR-Alliance-Fintech-for-Climate-Reslience.pdf

Chicago

FSD Africa. CIFAR WG Report Latest 1. n.d. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CIFAR-Alliance-Fintech-for-Climate-Reslience.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=FSD Africa |title=CIFAR WG Report Latest 1 |url=https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CIFAR-Alliance-Fintech-for-Climate-Reslience.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fsdafricandcifar, author = {{FSD Africa}}, title = {{CIFAR WG Report Latest 1}}, institution = {FSD Africa}, url = {https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CIFAR-Alliance-Fintech-for-Climate-Reslience.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }