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The Dominica Community Resilience Enhancement Project (DOMCREP) is a 60-month initiative requesting USD 24.53 million in grants from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to enhance climate resilience in Dominica. The project focuses on eight highly vulnerable communities, targeting improvements in climate-smart agriculture, the upgrading of national and community-level Early Warning Systems (EWS), and the retrofitting of multi-purpose emergency shelters with independent solar power and water storage. Key components include a matching grant mechanism for farmers to adopt resilient technologies, the development of a climate resilience knowledge hub, and the updating of national policies to integrate resilience principles. The project is executed jointly by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and the Government of Dominica's Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience, and Social Security.

The briefing presents an economic case for investing in natural capital, asserting that nature-based solutions can provide over 50% of the cost-effective global mitigation needed for a 2°C pathway. It highlights that wetlands and forests generate trillions in annual ecosystem services, far exceeding the costs of their protection and the adaptation finance needs of developing countries. The text notes that while rehabilitating nature and transforming food systems can yield returns between 6.8 and 51 times the investment, current financial flows remain misaligned, with significant funding still directed toward harmful environmental subsidies.

Analysis of 840 municipalities in the Cerrado shows that land clearing for soy creates a 3:1 productivity loss, where climate spillovers outweigh the gains from new farmland. While individual farmers profit by externalizing costs, the region lost USD 9.4 billion in potential soy production between 2013 and 2023 due to deforestation-induced drying. Global importers, particularly China and Germany, face significant supply chain vulnerabilities, with China's sourcing regions losing USD 5.0 billion in annual production capacity. The report argues for urgent conservation and intensification strategies, noting that most municipalities are still below a critical climate threshold where protection delivers maximum benefit.

The report argues that temporary CRCF units from carbon farming are currently of low quality due to insufficient management of non-permanence and additionality risks, making them unsuitable for offsetting emissions. It assesses proposed EU agri-food policies—including an Agricultural Emissions Trading System (AgETS) and Mandatory Climate Standards (MCS)—concluding that allowing these units as offsets would undermine environmental integrity. The authors recommend shifting toward activity-based payments, either through a reformed Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) or other public funding mechanisms, to promote carbon farming without the integrity risks associated with result-based crediting.

A three-year restoration project in North Mecha, Ethiopia, has successfully revived local water sources and improved food security through community-led land management. By implementing revegetation and soil conservation practices across 400 hectares, the project increased groundwater levels, extended stream flow into the dry season, and boosted crop production for 321 households.

The report examines the intersection of climate change and food security in Nigeria, highlighting how extreme weather, conflict, and poor infrastructure threaten agricultural productivity. It analyzes the alignment of the FMAFS Road Map, NATIP, and the NDC, while identifying critical gaps in budget utilization and policy coordination. The document advocates for a shift toward community-led, climate-smart agriculture and improved financial transparency to achieve long-term resilience.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) reports a portfolio of USD 19.3 billion and USD 59.3 billion in co-financing over its first ten years, reaching 249 million people through adaptation projects. The Fund is pursuing a '50by30' vision to manage a USD 50 billion portfolio by 2030, with a programming target of USD 8-9 billion in 2030. Key achievements include reducing 95.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent and restoring 33.2 million hectares of ecosystems. The report highlights ten case studies across various sectors, including wind energy in Djibouti, coastal protection in Tuvalu, and climate-smart agriculture in the Aral Sea Basin, emphasizing a shift toward systemic, locally-led transformation.

The report evaluates the impact of SUNCASA-implemented nature-based solutions (NbS) in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, focusing on the Dechatu River Catchment. Using the SAVi methodology, it projects that interventions including afforestation, agroforestry, and urban tree planting will generate a discounted net benefit of ETB 101.6 million from 2025 to 2050, with a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.36. The primary economic driver is the avoidance of flood-related infrastructure damage, valued at ETB 188.1 million. The assessment also highlights significant intangible benefits, such as avoided health costs from water pollution (ETB 65.8 million) and carbon sequestration (ETB 54.2 million). Sensitivity analyses indicate the project remains viable even with a 94% tree survival rate or under higher carbon pricing scenarios.

The document details the impact of the Restore Local initiative and TerraFund in Ghana's Cocoa Belt, where farmers are transitioning from monocropping to agroforestry. By integrating native trees, fruit trees, and beekeeping, farmers are combating soil erosion and climate instability while diversifying their income streams. The initiative has supported 15 non-profits and five local enterprises, resulting in 4.1 million trees planted and 9,300 hectares under restoration, contributing toward Ghana's national goal of restoring 2 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

The author contends that the EU's CRCF framework relies on unscientific methodologies and lacks social safeguards, potentially fueling 'green-grabbing' and land inequality. The document further criticizes the proposed next phase of the CAP for lacking a ringfenced budget for environmental action and granting member states too much autonomy, which may lead to a 'race to the bottom' regarding environmental safeguards. It concludes that carbon and nature credits are unsuitable tools for ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers.

The Nature-Based Infrastructure (NBI) transformation program in Kisumu, Kenya, integrates agroforestry, sanitation, and fisheries to restore the Lake Victoria basin. A Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment indicates that an integrated approach could generate USD 940 million in net benefits over 26 years, yielding approximately USD 3 for every dollar invested. Key economic drivers include USD 480 million in avoided health costs through improved sanitation and USD 62.85 million in carbon valuation, which exceeds the program's capital expenditures.

The report analyzes the convergence of nature-based solutions (NbS) and adaptation and resilience (A&R) finance, highlighting a critical funding gap where annual global nature finance flows of USD 200 billion are only one-third of the amount needed by 2030. Through five case studies—including the Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund and Wildfire Resilience Insurance—the document identifies key barriers such as the complexity of measuring outcomes in changing climates, the lack of standardized metrics, and the high upfront costs of resilience interventions. It argues that while carbon credits and regulatory standards like the EU Deforestation Regulation provide pathways, scaling requires a shift from reactive to preventive investment mindsets and the development of credible, localized impact metrics. The report concludes that reforming the development finance architecture and leveraging global frameworks like COP30 are essential to mainstreaming nature-based adaptation.

IREN Agri is a blended debt fund designed to support climate-smart agriculture in West Africa, starting with a cocoa-focused pilot in Côte d’Ivoire. The vehicle combines medium-term loans, multi-year offtake agreements, and digital technical assistance via the SUTTI platform to reduce investor risk and improve smallholder resilience. The fund aims to scale from a EUR 12.5 million pilot to a EUR 100 million fund by 2028, targeting a serviceable obtainable market of over EUR 500 million across six West African countries.

The Tropical Resilience Fund (TREF) is a USD 100 million closed-ended mezzanine debt fund designed to bridge the 'missing middle' financing gap for nature-based ventures in the tropical belt. Managed by Impact Earth, the fund employs a blended finance structure—combining a junior first-loss tranche with senior commercial capital—to invest in nature projects, productive systems, and market catalysts. TREF focuses on enhancing climate resilience across high-value commodities such as coffee, cacao, and rice, primarily in Latin America and Southeast Asia. The fund targets a net internal rate of return (IRR) of 10% and utilizes a three-stage resilience approach involving risk mapping, resilient operating plans, and post-investment verification.

The 2025 Forest Declaration Assessment finds that global forests remain in crisis, with 8.1 million hectares lost in 2024 and the world 63% off track for zero deforestation by 2030. Deforestation is primarily driven by permanent agriculture (86%), while forest degradation is escalating rapidly, particularly in the Amazon Basin. Private sector action remains largely insufficient, with only 3% of Forest 500 companies meeting expectations for strong commitments. Public finance for forests (USD 5.7 billion) is dwarfed by environmentally harmful agricultural subsidies (USD 409 billion). Governance is hindered by power imbalances and insecure land rights, though protected areas now cover 17.5% of global land. The report calls for mandatory regulations, integrated landscape approaches, and inclusive decision-making involving Indigenous Peoples and local communities to meet 2030 goals.

The New Juaben South Municipal Assembly (NJSMA) Adaptation Plan (2024–2030) outlines a strategic framework to mitigate climate risks in Ghana's Eastern Region. Following a vulnerability assessment, the plan prioritizes interventions across eight sectors, with agriculture and water resources identified as the most vulnerable. Key strategies include promoting climate-smart agriculture (e.g., aquaculture and animal husbandry), protecting water catchments through afforestation, and improving urban drainage to reduce flooding. The plan emphasizes gender-responsive actions, such as creating social support groups and promoting palm kernel processing for women. Implementation is led by the Municipal Planning Coordination Unit (MPCU) and supported by a multi-stakeholder governance framework and a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system.

Deforestation in the Congo Basin risks reducing regional rainfall by up to 40%, which could lead to cumulative cocoa yield losses of 3.06 million tonnes across nine African countries by 2050. This supply shock is projected to drive cocoa prices to USD 68.1 per kilogram by 2050, with deforestation accounting for 40.2% of that price. EU importers could face cumulative additional costs of USD 256 billion by 2050. The report argues that investing in forest conservation, particularly community-led restoration, is more cost-effective than inaction, offering avoided costs of USD 1.8 to USD 6 for every dollar invested.

The Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Assembly (BABMA) has developed a Climate Adaptation Plan (2025–2030) to address increasing temperatures and erratic rainfall. The plan identifies high vulnerabilities in agriculture, water resources, forestry, biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, human health, and gender. It proposes 88 adaptation options, with a total estimated implementation cost of GHC 171,429,795.00. Key priorities include rainwater harvesting for irrigation, early warning systems for disasters, and gender-responsive healthcare and agricultural support.

The Climate Adaptation Plan for the Kassena Nankana Municipality provides a roadmap for addressing climate vulnerabilities in Northern Ghana. It identifies key risks—including temperature rises of 1.5C to 2.5C and erratic rainfall—and proposes prioritized interventions across agriculture, water, health, gender, and infrastructure. The plan emphasizes a blended financing approach and a participatory monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework to ensure sustainable and inclusive implementation.

The Kintampo Municipal Assembly Climate Adaptation Plan (KMAP) provides a comprehensive strategy to build resilience against climate hazards such as droughts, floods, and bushfires in Ghana's Bono East Region. The plan prioritizes on-farm actions like conservation agriculture and irrigation, off-farm knowledge dissemination, and gender-responsive initiatives. It outlines a diverse funding framework leveraging government, international, and private resources, and establishes a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system to track progress. Coordination is led by a dedicated Climate Desk within the Municipal Planning and Coordinating Unit, supported by a multi-stakeholder platform.