Smallholders produce 1/3 of the world’s food, yet receive less than 1% of climate finance

Today, on the International Day of Rural Women, Project Dandelion is launching a new global campaign calling on leaders to increase investment in smallholder farms ahead of COP30. In partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the campaign highlights powerful projects that demonstrate how investing in smallholder farmers—particularly women—can drive sustainable development, strengthen food security, and build climate resilience.

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Smallholder Farmer: In Ethiopia’s Southern Regional State, Askalech is part of one of 15 pioneering Gender Model Families (GMFs). Alongside her husband and three daughters, she has transformed her household into a model of gender equality and agricultural resilience – inspiring neighbors across her community. Photography: Eduardo Soteras

Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the global food system, producing one-third of the world’s food and nearly 70% in Africa (FAO). Yet despite their critical role, they receive less than 1% of climate finance, leaving millions without the resources to withstand droughts, floods, and other climate shocks (IFAD). Women are at the center: in many regions, they make up the majority of the agricultural workforce - more than two-thirds of employed women in South Asia and 66% in sub-Saharan Africa (FAO). They drive innovation, sustain families and economies, and lead on climate-smart practices. Research shows the immense potential of investing in women farmers: if resources matched their contributions, the global economy would gain US$1 trillion (FAO).

“Smallholders are anything but 'small' - they power our food system, drive rural economies and lead innovative climate solutions that benefit us all. The lack of investment in women farmers is not just an injustice, it is holding back the solutions we urgently need,” said Mary Robinson, Co-Founder of Project Dandelion and first woman President of Ireland.

As leaders prepare for COP30, the campaign calls for urgent investment in smallholder farms — by highlighting the innovative women farmers who are the backbone of global food systems and rural economies. Showcasing proven projects and the women farmers involved in them, the campaign illustrates the transformative results that happen when access to finance, technology and decision making power are gained: productivity rises, resilience strengthens, and communities thrive. By putting smallholder farmers, especially women, at the center of climate action, leaders have the opportunity to unlock scalable solutions that feed nations, protect livelihoods, and drive inclusive economic growth.

In Ethiopia’s southern region, women now hold 25% of leadership roles in Irrigation Water User Associations, improving water governance, distribution, and agricultural productivity. Since inception, this investment has increased, growing seasons have expanded from one to three, transforming livelihoods. “We have witnessed that investing in women pays in multiple ways - it improves productivity, it increases the returns from farming livelihood and the wellbeing of families, all the while conserving the natural environment. This Investment targets challenging restrictive norms that limit women's meaningful contributions in terms of their knowledge, skills, and roles, aiming to improve their livelihoods. The game changer, as can be seen from the stories of our farmers, is the investments in empowering women, and the journey of empowering women never ends,” said Mr. Nuredin Asaro, National Program Manager, Participatory Agriculture and Climate Transformation (PACT) Programme, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia.

In India, women are reclaiming once-barren land and transforming it into sustainable incomes through bamboo cultivation, connecting to industry and global supply chains. “Ensuring access to functional literacy, financial services, skill development, and entrepreneurial opportunities for women smallholder farmers enhances their livelihoods while contributing to community development. When women assume leadership roles, they foster inclusive growth by improving household incomes, strengthening education and health outcomes, and advancing social well-being,” said Ms. Rajlaxmi Shah (IAS), Managing Director, Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM), Maharashtra State’s Women Development Corporation.

COP30 is the time for leaders to dismantle the systemic barriers that sideline rural women and start supplying them with the investments that match their global impact in the fight against hunger, poverty and climate change – a fight they already wage daily in communities across the globe.

“Women farmers are not waiting for handouts; they are already feeding their communities, running small businesses, and managing natural resources. By investing in women farmers, we are not only supporting livelihoods and food security, we are also building stronger, more stable societies,” said Gerardine Mukeshimana, Vice-President of the International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD).

As part of the campaign, Project Dandelion has convened global leaders, NGOs, and grassroots activists to rally behind a clear and urgent call: COP30 Leaders – Invest where the impact is greatest.

“Women farmers are not a side story, they are central to the fight against climate change. The real-life stories shared through this campaign demonstrate that when we invest in women farmers, we invest in a liveable future. Women farmers deliver every day for their families, communities, and our planet. Now it’s our turn to deliver for them! That is why we are uniting Dandelions worldwide to shine a light on the leadership of women farmers, and this huge opportunity for investment,” said Ronda Carnegie, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Project Dandelion.

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About Project Dandelion

Project Dandelion is a global, women-led campaign for climate justice. Launched in 2023 with strategic and creative support from WRTHY, the initiative brings together activists, indigenous leaders, artists, philanthropists, and changemakers to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. Guided by the belief that every issue is a climate issue, Project Dandelion amplifies the voices of women and frontline communities, while mobilizing cross-movement action on gender equality, education, human rights, and sustainability. Inspired by the resilience of the dandelion, the campaign spreads hope and momentum worldwide—building collective power for a just and regenerative future. Learn more at www.projectdandelion.com.

About IFAD

IFAD is an international financial institution and a United Nations specialized agency. Based in Rome – the United Nations food and agriculture hub – IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, IFAD has provided more than US$25 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries. Through its Gender Transformative Mechanism (GTM), IFAD is ensuring women farmers are not just recipients but decision-makers in climate adaptation. By 2030, the GTM aims to empower over 20 million rural people across 20 countries.

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“Smallholders are anything but 'small' - they power our food system, drive rural economies and lead innovative climate solutions that benefit us all."