Search Climate Insights Directory

This report examines barriers to accessing finance for community-led resilience in the global South, drawing on the 'Voices from the Frontline' initiative. It identifies five main barriers—regulatory, market, social, economic, and technological—and highlights four sustainable alternatives: VSLA savings groups, the TWW profit-sharing model, Kiva crowdfunding via field partners (iDE), and Abalimi Bezekhaya's subsidised cost model. The report emphasizes that financial access must be paired with capacity building and mentorship, and suggests that the private sector can play a critical role as guaranteed offtakers and mentors for small-scale entrepreneurs.