Norway to increase support for climate change adaptation in agriculture

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Climate change has a severe impact on food producers, and small-scale farmers and fishers in poor countries are most vulnerable. To help address this, Norway is providing NOK 100 million for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in small-scale food production in poor countries.

‘The funding is intended to help developing countries to improve their adaptive capacity to climate change and succeed in reducing poverty. The Enhanced Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP+) promotes food production, transport and storage that are better adapted to a more challenging climate. Another positive aspect of this programme is its focus on women and young people,’ said Ms Tvinnereim.

ASAP+ is an initiative under the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). IFAD is a specialised UN agency dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.

‘IFAD plays a vital role in the effort to increase food security. I will soon be launching Norway’s new strategy to combat hunger and enhance global food security. The overall aim of this strategy is to facilitate climate-resilient small-scale food production in poor countries. This is in line with IFAD’s core mandate,’ said Ms Tvinnereim.

ASAP+ was launched by IFAD in 2020 under the Rural Resilience Programme (2RP). The 2RP aims to increase the amount of climate finance that reaches small-scale food producers. In 2017–2018, only 1.7 % of global climate finance went to this group. Norway announced the funding at the climate summit (COP27) in Egypt. Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim and IFAD President Alvaro Lario signed the agreement on 9 November 2022.