We bring together value-chain actors – authorities, research partners and investors from the private and public sectors – to speed up the adoption of proven, climate-smart agricultural practices and business solutions that address both adaptation and mitigation along food value chains. We also incubate innovation to contribute to increasing the spectrum of measures to build climate resilience. Our Climate and Business projects cut across agriculture and energy.

The challenge

Low income countries are especially vulnerable to climate change. Major agriculture yield reductions are foreseen since 80% of food in Africa is produced by small scale farmers with limited resilience and many risk a setback into poverty and food insecurity. At the same time, demand for food will increase strongly. Using current methods to increase production will intensify land use, increase deforestation, emissions and environmental degradation, adding to a vicious cycle of climate stresses.

Our product

SNV has over 50 years of experience in developing value chains through market-based services. Building on our decades long experience to professionalise value chains, we identify risks, prioritise interventions, incubate business cases based on climate smart practices and facilitate links to financing to scale these cases. By bringing value chain actors together, sharing insights and supporting advocacy, we accelerate sector-wide adoption and aim for sector transformation. Our interventions also address climate change impacts on gender equality and people’s nutritional status.

SNV's Climate & Business approach consists of the following elements:

Assessment: We utilise the latest climate change data and local research in the SNV Climate Risk Assessment Tool to determine risks for selected food crop value chains.We also determine trade-offs between local increased production and mitigation options.
Identification and incubation: With the results of the assessment and utilising the SNV Business Scan, we identify and prioritise interventions that increase climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Professionalisation: By professionalising market-based services in the selected value chains, such as farmer field schools and input services, we increase efficiency and productivity while promoting climate smart practices. We also bring producers, suppliers and processors together to help them overcome common barriers, strengthen governance and establish fair pricing systems.
Scaling and acceleration: Using the PPPLab Scaling Scan, we analyse barriers and opportunities to grow successful business cases. Working with investment experts, we attract (semi-)commercial financing by comparing returns on current investments in adaptation and mitigation to the costs of in-action. We document insights from our business cases and share them with relevant actors to accelerate sector wide adoption. By informing investors and trading companies, and supporting inclusive policy development, we initiate sector transformation.

Our areas of expertise are: