Global Injustice: Only 0.3% of climate finance reaches small-scale farmers

In a stark revelation, a new analysis shows that small-scale family farmers, responsible for producing a third of the world’s food, received a mere 0.3% of international climate finance in 2021. The findings, released by a coalition of farmer networks representing over 35 million small-scale producers in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, shed light on the critical gap in support for those on the front lines of global food production.
The study comes just ahead of COP28, where discussions are set to finalize a Global Goal for Adaptation.The UAE Presidency is urging governments to integrate food and agriculture into national climate plans for the first time and to scale up financial support for the transformation of food systems.
According to the analysis conducted by Climate Focus, the agri-food sector received $8.4 billion in international public climate finance in 2021, roughly half of the $16 billion allocated to the energy sector. However, climate-vulnerable and food-insecure countries such as Zambia and Sierra Leone received a meager $20 million each.
Shockingly, only 2% of international public climate finance, totaling $2 billion, was directed towards small-scale family farmers and rural communities. This figure represents a mere 0.3% of the total international climate finance from both public and private sources, despite smallholders’ estimated financial needs reaching $170 billion annually in Sub-Saharan Africa alone.
The report, titled “Untapped Potential,” underscores that only 19% of international public climate finance spending on food and agriculture was allocated to support sustainable and resilient practices, such as agroecology, amounting to $1.6 billion. This is a fraction of the estimated $300 – 350 billion required annually for such initiatives.
Hakim Baliriane, Chair of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small-Scale Farmers Forum, expressed concern, stating, “Climate change has contributed to pushing 122 million people into hunger since 2019. Reversing this trend will not be possible if governments continue to tie the hands of millions of family farmers.”
The report further highlights that 80% of international public climate finance in the agri-food sector is channeled through recipient governments and donor country NGOs, making it challenging for family farmer organizations to access due to complex eligibility rules and application processes.
Family farmers, often lacking the infrastructure, technology, and resources to adapt to climate impacts, play a crucial role in global food security and rural economies. Farms of less than two hectares produce a third of the world’s food, while farms of 5 hectares or less account for over half of the global production of staple crops. More than 2.5 billion people globally depend on family farms for their livelihoods.
The report emphasizes that the most effective way to safeguard food security is to shift to more nature-friendly and diverse food systems. Family farmers are at the forefront of these efforts, implementing sustainable practices such as planting drought-resistant crops.
Alberto Broch, President of the Confederation of Family Producer Organizations of Expanded Mercosur (COPROFAM), issued a clear message to governments, stating, “More than 600 million family farms are already engaged in building more sustainable and resilient food systems. By including their voices in decision-making and ensuring direct access to more climate finance, we can create a powerful alliance in the fight against climate change.”
Esther Penunia, Secretary General of the Asian Farmers Association, called for a major re-think of climate finance, urging greater support for family farmers and sustainable practices like agroecology. She emphasized that working with nature and empowering local communities is key to safeguarding food production in a changing climate.