Private sector funds play a crucial role in addressing the adaptation finance gap, estimated at USD 194-366 billion annually, and facilitating global community resilience against climate change impacts. Beyond sheer volume, maximizing the impact of these funds is paramount. A gender-responsive approach in designing adaptation products and services or investing in adaptation initiatives not only enhances effectiveness but also unlocks various developmental benefits. While still emerging, the intersection of gender and private sector solutions to climate adaptation garners increasing international attention.
Women, often more vulnerable to climate effects, also possess invaluable firsthand experiences, positioning them as vital agents of change. Compiled from interviews by the Private Adaptation Finance component at GIZ and supplemented by desk research, this brief highlights the private sector’s potential to empower women as catalysts for climate adaptation. While the focus spans Africa and South Asia, the insights presented resonate across diverse cultural and regional contexts. Addressing women’s vulnerabilities, the brief delves into how Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) can support women empowerment across their operations, value chains, and products. Additionally, it explores amplifying the role of female entrepreneurs and leveraging investor influence to bolster women’s engagement in climate resilience efforts.
This publication has been developed as part of a project on Private Adaptation Finance, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, which aims to mobilize investment in private sector solutions for climate change adaptation. The project supports the supply and demand side of capital for climate change adaptation & resilience investment in a holistic approach that includes ecosystem building and peer-learning, and connects the global debate to the local context and stakeholder scene. For more information please contact denise.engel@giz.de or visit www.adaptationcommunity.net/private-sector-adaptation
