By Harko Koster, Global Lead – Resilient and Productive Landscapes, SNV

At the upcoming UN climate talks in Belém (UNFCCC COP 30), where food systems will stand among the five priorities under the Brazilian Presidency, governments, donors, and private investors are set to shift from statements of intent to a roadmap for delivery. But that can only happen if climate finance starts to flow to stakeholders at the frontlines of the crisis, those already showing how to adapt and innovate.

Agriculture sustains livelihoods across the globe, but it also contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water scarcity, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. In turn, climate extremes leave rural communities and smallholder farmers hugely vulnerable. Yet, these very same groups carry generations of ecological knowledge and are already advancing solutions, from climate-resilient crops to regenerative farming, that can support livelihoods while safeguarding ecosystems. What often holds them back is access to resources. Billions of dollars have been pledged for climate action, yet just 2% reaches smallholder food producers in low- and lower middle-income countries, leaving adaptation largely donor‑driven and top‑down.

This mismatch was repeatedly underscored at key high-level dialogues this year, from Green Investment Dialogue in Marrakesh and the SEforALL Global Forum in Barbados, to the Bonn Climate Meetings, World Water Week in Stockholm, the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar and the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa. Despite technical innovations and countless promises, finance remains out of reach. If we truly want to move towards implementation, investments must align with national priorities and contribute to local solutions.

Lessons from past conversations: Help COP 30 break the cycle

First, there is a clear need to rethink how climate finance is structured, so it becomes easier to access. At the Green Investment Dialogue, it was stressed that mobilizing finance is not just about numbers. It is also about aligning investments with national priorities, enabling policy environments, and training communities in technical skills to develop fundable projects, particularly on climate adaptation. Practice shows that when risks are reduced through innovative finance, such as first-loss guarantees or results-based financing – community-based solutions can attract private capital.

In Viet Nam’s Mekong Delta, the local producer Camimex secured funding to pursue sustainable mangrove shrimp farming, once dismissed as too risky. After engaging with technical support that helped de-risk the model through The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) Origination Facility, which stems from a resilience fund designed to support climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives that benefit vulnerable communities and ecosystems, farmer incomes increased, 17,500 hectares of mangroves came under restoration, and 10 million tonnes of CO2 was sequestered. This shows how inclusive finance combined with local leadership can drive change.

Furthermore, adaptation in food systems cannot be separated from other sectors like water and energy as they are deeply interdependent. Scaling regenerative practices, improving water resource management, reducing post‑harvest loss, and expanding renewables in rural economies bring multiple and simultaneous advantages for communities, ecosystems, and the climate. Across East Africa, for instance, smallholders who invest in solar irrigation and cooling are becoming more resilient to droughts while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Lessons from our partners show that holistic finance models that cut across sectors are crucial to making transformation possible.

Finally, through it all, inclusion and equity must remain key. Climate finance is most successful when local communities, including women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples, are empowered to lead. In the Sahel, local farmer and pastoralist organizations are building resilience with support from new institutional models that embed local ownership and gender inclusion, as part of a EUR 100 million consortium financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Mali, the story of entrepreneur Fafouré Sogoba shows what is possible. With targeted financial support and training, she expanded her small fonio‑processing enterprise into a thriving business that creates jobs and strengthens her community’s food security.

Her success underscores how inclusive finance can support the leadership of women and other local entrepreneurs who sit at the heart of rural economies most vulnerable to climate impacts.

Addressing barriers to scale and sustainability

Scaling efforts like these requires removing barriers, including burdensome application processes, risk perceptions, and rigid donor timelines. Simplified mechanisms, lower transaction costs, and stronger local intermediaries are essential. Crucially, smallholders and pastoralists must help shape nationally determined contributions (NDCs). When they contribute to setting climate targets, those commitments become more legitimate and likelier to succeed.

Finally, multistakeholder partnerships at local, national, and global levels are also key. The Action on Food Hub, for example, of which we at SNV are a partner, convenes non-state actors during the COP process. By providing a pavilion under which the entire agrifood community can come together, including farmers, Indigenous Peoples, and youth innovators can engage with the international climate negotiations and shape the future of food systems together.

These stakeholders move localization principles beyond theoretical insight to on-the-ground climate action in lived examples across regions, where communities are on the frontlines of the crisis and collective action.

Yet just as momentum builds, new challenges emerge. Aid cuts and backtracking on climate targets in key high-income countries threaten progress. But perhaps this makes the business case for directing finance to frontier communities all the stronger today. There is an urgent need to ensure tangible and long-term economic mechanisms and agency for farmers, pastoralists, and small enterprises to truly put food systems back in the hands of people who steer and govern them on the ground up. Strengthening food supply chains at the source ultimately supports climate action in places that are most vulnerable and generates green jobs for generations to come.

At COP 30, discussions must focus on how to center locally driven approaches, moving towards genuine partnerships built on accountability, trust, and shared ownership.

We have the evidence. To make food a genuine climate solution, the leaders in Belém must step up, scale up, and stand with those already adapting and innovating.