22 May 2013: The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has released a policy brief on challenges and opportunities for mitigation and adaptation to climate change for smallholder farmers.

The brief identifies the need for up-front public sector finance to reduce risk, spur initial investment and leverage private capital. It underscores the importance of strengthening the tenure and capacity of community based organizations to ensure that benefits reach the local level. In the publication, ICRAF encourages investment in food security and considers mitigation as a co-benefit. On adaptive strategies, the brief calls for a focus on access to insurance markets and affordability, as well as a reliance on multiple sources of finance to reduce the risks associated with investment in smallholder farmers. Finally, ICRAF stresses the need for scientific research frameworks to quantify the role of management practices in adaptation and mitigation.

ICRAF is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [Publication: Climate Finance for Agriculture and Livelihoods]