CEADIR Series: Implementing and Financing Climate Smart Agriculture

Climate change poses a serious, increasing threat to food security in many developing countries. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) aims to increase the resilience of food production through adaptive measures while also taking into consideration opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration. This CEADIR series discussion addressed two critical components of CSA — implementation and financing—with good examples of CSA from sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

Dr. Noel Gurwick of USAID’s Global Climate Change Office moderated and provided an overview of how USAID helps countries adapt to climate change variability and severe weather events to ensure greater food security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions where appropriate. Michael Godfrey of Abt Associates shared successful experiences of USAID projects in Mali and South Sudan on adoption of climate-resistant crops and greenhouse gas mitigation in agriculture. Anita Campion of Connexus highlighted sustainable CSA financing in USAID-supported work with smallholder farmer organizations and enterprises in Colombia, Ghana, and Kenya.