Private Sector & Adaptation

Dealing with risks and seizing &
financing opportunities in
the private sector

GIZ’s Private Adaptation Investment Bootcamp


The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, is implementing a project on Private Adaptation Finance until the end of 2024, which aims to mobilize investment in private sector solutions for climate change adaptation & resilience.

The Private Adaptation Investment Bootcamp (PrivABoo) is a peer-learning approach targeting practitioners (SMEs, investors, accelerators, entrepreneurs, startups, …) at various stages of climate change adaptation investments and finance, mixing & matching different learning formats (networking, dialogue, training and individual technical assistance), with the aim to:

  • Equip SMEs and Impact investors with tools, information, and skills to scale up SMEs with business models in the field of climate change adaptation
  • Build a network that enables knowledge sharing, business creation and acceleration, and innovation partnerships for climate change adaptation
  • Develop a scalable approach to promote private adaptation investments


The approach aims to close the adaptation finance gap by mobilizing and scaling investments in innovative adaptation technologies to increase resilience to climate change. It is designed as an innovative, flexible and dynamic approach towards private adaptation finance that is structured around and responds to the individual needs and action plans of its participants.

PrivABoo runs three learning cycles:

1. PrivABoo Adaptation SME Core Group

The Adaptation SME Core Group focuses on growth-stage small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that offer innovative, adaptation-relevant technologies, products or services (“Adaptation SMEs”). These SMEs receive individual technical assistance and tailored investment readiness support, and are matched with investors with the aim to raise capital and investment by the end of the program.

  • The 1st PrivABoo SME Core Group (or 1st cohort) was formed in March 2022: 15 SMEs from Kenya and Nigeria (see below) were identified through a competitive call for applications for which ca. 130 applications were received. The selected SMEs receive investment readiness support provided by independent consultants and participate in a closed peer-learning program on climate change adaptation until December 2023. 
  • The 2nd PrivABoo SME Core Group (or 2nd cohort) has been formed in June 2023: 19 SMEs from Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Pakistan,  (see below) were identified through a competitive call for applications. These SMEs were selected through a rigorous and transparent process and will receive investment readiness support provided by GreenTec Capital and participate in a closed peer-to-peer learning program on climate change adaptation until December 2024.


2. PrivABoo Investor Core Group

Through its Investor Core Group, PrivABoo provides needs-based advisory services for investors and impact investment funds who already invest in adaptation-relevant business models or are interested in building a portfolio of climate change adaptation & resilience investments through private equity and venture capital investment (commercial) and/or public equity (concessional). The services include TA to selected Adaptation SME from the pipeline of investors, portfolio screening, advice on adaptation impact measurement, etc. and awareness raising and organization of matchmaking events. For more information, please contact denise.engel@giz.de.

3. PrivABoo Practitioners’ Lab

The Practitioners’ Lab is an open space to connect, exchange and pool expertise to drive investment in business models for climate change adaptation. It is our vehicle for ecosystem-building and connects the different workstreams and opens them for an exchange with a broader group of partners working in the field of A&R investments. The Pracitioners’ Lab

  • focuses on showcasing practical examples for private adaptation investment from among its participants
  • facilitates peer-learning between participants
  • builds a network of partners to mobilize additional investments for climate change adaptation.


Activities under the Practitioners’ Lab include webinars, panel discussions, networking events and knowledge products. To join, please contact denise.engel@giz.de. You’ll be added to our mailing list and be kept informed of upcoming events.