SMEs are the backbone of economic development and the main interface in the provision of goods and services to smallholder farmers across Southern Africa. They create employment and entrepreneurship for a large proportion of the population in developing countries and can enhance the capacities of households through stable and diversified incomes to help them withstand the impacts of climate-induced shocks and stressors.

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Supporting adaptation through climate-smart agriculture is key to building climate resilience and supporting the implementation of the SDGs. Yet, adequate financing is unavailable.

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The event will explore Resilient Investment in Southern Africa (RISA), a market-based intervention co-designed by Camco and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to address the need to adapt to climate change for the most vulnerable people and communities. RISA will build technical and financial capacity for SMEs and provide funding to establish sustainable, commercially viable businesses working on climate-smart solutions for smallholder farmers.

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The vehicle is designed to attract additional private sector investment, ensure sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and deliver climate action in a sector where it is urgently needed. The investments will sustain economic growth and employment creation in critical economic activities, contributing to technological upgrading and innovation through value addition in labour-intensive sectors.

 

The event will showcase climate action with concrete contribution to other SDGs. It will bring together various stakeholders from SMEs, climate finance professionals, fund managers and development agencies to discuss the opportunity to address climate change in a vulnerable sector, whilst supporting the 2030 agenda.