Empowering Farmers to Advance Climate Finance through Collective Action
From March 2-6, the Family Farmers for Climate Action (FFCA), an alliance of over 95 million producers across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, convened in Manila to strengthen their role as more effective, agile, and impactful implementers of climate finance. The gathering underscored a shared ambition: to ensure that climate resources reach those who need them most—family farmers on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Building on momentum from FFCA’s first workshop in Tanzania in 2025, the meeting was hosted by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), with support from the Foundation for Farmers Organisations for Restorative Action (FFORA), the Intercontinental Network of Organic Farmers Organisations (INOFO), and GIZ.
It brought together global farmer leaders, development partners, and policymakers to exchange experiences, identify barriers, and co-create pathways toward more inclusive climate finance systems. A key highlight was a field visit to Batangas, where participants engaged with local cooperatives such as the Philippine Family Farmers Agriculture Fishery Forestry Cooperatives Federation (AgriCOOPh). The group also visited “Happy Thumbs,” where the female farmers celebrated the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Despite producing one-third of the world’s food and leading grassroots solutions to climate and biodiversity challenges, small-scale family farmers receive only 0.3% of international climate finance for adaptation. This stark imbalance was a central theme throughout the discussions, with participants calling for a fundamental shift toward direct, accessible, and farmer-led financing mechanisms.
AFA Secretary General Esther Penunia emphasized the unique position of farmers’ organisations: “Our membership are the farmers. We know their needs. We can reach them, mobilize them, and coordinate actions as key actors in development.”
Keynote speaker Renato Redentor “Red” Constantino highlighted the broader structural challenges, noting that the Philippines’ renewable energy potential remains underutilized while dependence on fossil fuels persists. Rising oil prices, exacerbated by global conflicts, are already affecting farmers. He called for a stronger national “prosperity agenda” that prioritizes sustainable energy and resilience.
Guest speaker Senator Francis Pangilinan echoed the urgency of supporting farmers’ organisations, especially in times of uncertainty. Drawing from his experience as both policymaker and farmer, he stressed the importance of market access and enabling policies, including legislation that allows governments to procure directly from farmers. He also called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors and urged farmers to organize and amplify their voices: “With the loudest voices of the richest, farmers have to make sure to be heard.”
Elizabeth Nsimadala, President of the Eastern African Farmers Federation (EAFF), reinforced the call for direct support, particularly within the context of the UN Decade of Family Farming. She urged development partners to channel resources straight to farmers’ organisations, recognizing their capacity to deliver results on the ground.
Through FO-Hub, GIZ is actively supporting this shift. The FO-Hub directly funds farmers’ organisations, enabling their participation in regional and global policy processes and strengthening their role in shaping climate and agricultural agendas. GIZ also supports the implementation of the African Union’s CAADP Kampala Agenda, working with partners such as ROPPA and EAFF to develop national-level monitoring mechanisms.
Across regions and contexts, one message resonated clearly: empowering farmers’ organisations through direct support is essential to unlocking effective climate action. As the world seeks solutions to interconnected climate, nature, and food crises, family farmers are not just beneficiaries—they are key drivers of change.
