International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

For two decades, efforts to integrate forest and farm smallholders into modern value chains have aimed to achieve positive social and environmental impacts. But too often, partnerships are shaped by power imbalances. ⚖️ Because of this, smallholders lack genuine representation, resources, and opportunities to move up the value chain. This new report draws on six examples of equitable partnerships between smallholders and companies from Bolivia, The Gambia, Vietnam, Guatemala, Tanzania and Bangladesh, to highlight how companies should invest in ways that go beyond just buying, for example: ✅ Building capacity to enable products improvement ✅ Offering prefinancing to farmers or financing aligned to the seasonal harvests ✅ Not limiting contracts that prevent smallholders from selling their produce elsewhere ✅ Providing bundled services (finance, skills, inputs, market access) Read the insights and recommendations for companies, NGOs and other stakeholders 👇 https://lnkd.in/d-gU5tAG Nicola Sorsby Isabela Núñez del Prado Nieto Sophie Evers Ogden Rodas Uncommon Cacao Upendo Honey iFarmer

Our final selection of IIED summer reading covers publications on debt and climate impacts 💹 Don't miss these publications which will be essential reading ahead of COP30: ✅ Currencies under pressure: how currency fluctuations and climate risks impact debt sustainability in SIDS and LDCs: https://lnkd.in/e-G55GFP ✅ From conflict to resilience: tackling climate, debt and food insecurity in Somalia: https://lnkd.in/evcJ3FzY ✅ Aligning debt relief for climate and nature with the Principles of Effective Development Cooperation: https://lnkd.in/evcY78gu

🌍 Building climate-resilient, fair cities starts with climate science that reflects the real experiences of urban communities. A recent IPCC visit to Tudor Muoroto, a waterfront informal settlement in Kenya, showed how to document the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of urban climate risk and response. By speaking with community members, IPCC authors witnessed both the intersecting vulnerabilities driving climate risks, from sea-level rise to extreme heat, and the innovation and adaptation emerging in response. ⚖️ The visit showcased resilience in action and highlighted why community-led urban climate action needs more support. Find out more and read about the challenges to scaling local successes into citywide transformation in this new insight by Nina Schoonman and Joe Muturi 👇 https://lnkd.in/dbV39unW Anna Walnycki Tucker Landesman Bart van den Hurk Debra Roberts Angel Hsu, PhD Sarah Ouma, MPRSK, M.A Kilion Nyambuga Rashid Mutua Julie Greenwalt Esley Philander SDI. (Slum Dwellers International) Shack Dwellers International Kenya (SDI Kenya) Cities Alliance

After more than a decade of dedicated service, including five years as chair of IIED’s board of trustees, Dr Tara Shine is stepping down and Paul George is taking over 👏   🗣️ IIED executive director Tom Mitchell said: “Tara has led the board through a long, and at times, challenging period with clarity, verve and deep commitment to the organisation’s mission and values. We are grateful for the leadership she has given us, and she leaves with our deepest thanks and warmest wishes.” Paul George, currently vice chair, will take over as chair of the board for the coming year. A long-standing trustee and experienced leader in international development, Paul will provide continuity and support as IIED enters an important period of internal consolidation and renewal. 🌟 Please join us in thanking Tara for her dedication to IIED, and in welcoming Paul as our new chair!  Read more 👇  https://lnkd.in/dS7H9HCP  

Can community-investor conflict be prevented?   In many parts of the world, government efforts to promote investments in sectors such as ‘critical minerals’, agriculture, renewables and carbon offsets are increasing pressures on land. This is impacting the land rights of Indigenous Peoples, rural communities and small-scale producers. 🚧   The need to ensure that all legitimate tenure rights are adequately recognised and respected is more urgent than ever.   📢 New insight! Rachael Knight and Lorenzo Cotula discuss how proactive interventions can help identify and resolve potential, latent or emergent conflicts 👇 https://lnkd.in/dsK_5q3b   Illustration by Nnaemeka Ekeocha

IIED at #WorldWaterWeek 💧 This week, decision-makers, leaders, activists, researchers and many more are gathering in Stockholm to accelerate progress in international processes related to water, development, and climate. 📢 Tackling the greatest challenges of our time often starts with water. World Water Week offers a space to address the linked emergencies of climate change, environment degradation and biodiversity loss. IIED and partners will be present both in-person and online, hosting and participating in a range of side events, including: 🥭 Food security in a changing climate: embedding Fair Water Footprints 🗣️ Hear experts from IIED, Water Witness International, CDP, Chatham House, Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints & more discuss how embedding shared water security in the global economy is the route to climate resilience and food security for all. ⏰ 27 August, 9am 🚰 Drought in displacement: humanitarian and city responses for water security 🗣️ This session will introduce research findings on the intersections of drought and displacement in contexts of inequitable urbanisation. Join the debate and listen to experts from IIED, UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), University of Zambia, Zambia Homeless and Poor People's Federation & more! ⏰ 27 August, 11am 🗺️ Climate secure futures built on water secure foundations 🗣️ This session will explore inclusive pathways to secure water for people, nature, and economies – ensuring no one is left behind. Join and listen to experts from IIED, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Water Witness International, CDP, Resilient Water Accelerator & Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints & more! ⏰ 27 August, 11am Find out more about World Water Week and get tickets 👇 https://lnkd.in/dxapYfp

Summer in the northern hemisphere is winding down, but we still have summer reading to offer! Today we're sharing publications on climate finance and adaptation that you'll definitely want to read ahead of COP30: ✅ Reframing transformational adaptation in the UNFCCC: lessons and pathways: https://lnkd.in/g2m4Dd_3 ✅ Shifting climate adaptation finance to local communities through effective intermediaries: https://lnkd.in/eNi4gAxQ ✅ Recife Statement from the 19th International Conference on Community-based Adaptation: https://lnkd.in/eZw8qCqZ

IIED director of climate resilience, finance and loss and damage Ritu Bharadwaj has been has been selected as a Lead Author for the IPCC's WGII seventh assessment report! 🎉 Through her work with the Loss and Damage Research Observatory, Ritu will continue to bring the voices of vulnerable communities into global climate discussions. We're also happy to share that two Saleemul Huq Research Scholars have been appointed as Lead Authors: Wilson Lechón and Preeya Mohan 👏 The lived experiences of local communities need to be brough into global climate discourse, and we are excited by what's to come! Congratulations to all those selected 🌟

📢 Fair Water Footprints at #WorldWaterWeek! Water plays a pivotal role in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to build resilience safeguarding ecosystems and communities. World Water Week 2025 will focus on addressing the linked emergencies of climate change, environment degradation and biodiversity loss, emphasising both mitigation and adaptation, alongside the broader goal of enhancing resilience. Glasgow Declaration for Fair Water Footprints will be active throughout the conference at a few side events, including: 🍲 Food security in a changing climate: embedding Fair Water Footprints ⏲️ 27 August, 9 am 💡 Climate secure futures built on water secure foundations ⏲️ 27 August, 11 am 📢 Taking action with freshwater science-based targets for business resilience ⏲️ 28 August, 11 am Find out more about all the sessions and find tickets for #WorldWaterWeek 👇 https://lnkd.in/dphMQQ9k Laura Kelly Water Witness International Chatham House CDP Resilient Water Accelerator Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA) Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) World Resources Institute Europe WWF Conservation International

With #COP30 fast approaching, we need to recognise the potential of country platforms to channel climate finance to the local level ❗ For years, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing State (SIDS) have called for climate finance that aligns with their systems, priorities, and plans, but delivery has remained fragmented. Integral to these strategies are country platforms. A recent workshop held in Sevilla and convened by the Climate and Development Ministerial gathered stakeholders to put the long-standing ambition of LDCs and SIDS to the test against real-world delivery challenges. In this new insight, Christopher Bartlett and Sam Koojo details five priorities for a next-generation country platform, including: ✅ Embedding adaptation and locally led action from the start 👐 Aligning finance around national systems and letting go of control 🏗️ Building as you go − investing in capacity, not just capital Find out more 👇 https://lnkd.in/diM5PBfk