Day 1

09:00–09:20

Opening of the Forum 

Welcoming remarks  

Overview of the SCF Forum objectives and expected outcomes 

Welcoming remarks  

SCF Co-Chairs 

09:20–10:10















 

Session 1: Understanding Interlinkages and Regional Contexts – Climate, Agriculture, Food systems and Food security  

This session will explore the critical interconnections between climate change, agriculture, food systems, and food security, highlighting the essential role of finance in driving sustainable development and climate action. It will underscore the importance of tailoring financing strategies to diverse regional contexts and elevate the voices of smallholder farmers—communities on the frontlines of climate change—by addressing the unique challenges they face.

 

Moderator: SCF co-facilitator 

• Scene-setting presentation on Interlinkages of climate, agriculture, food systems and food security; and state of play on climate finance for agrifood systems.  
• Country case study on regional contexts and experiences in financing agrifood systems 

Panellists

• Farmers community/cooperative representative on unique challenges faced by them in accessing finance and role of farmers and local communities in transforming agrifood systems 
• Domestic financial institution on enabling access to finance for farmers and local agrifood actors through tailored financial products and delivery models.
• An MDB/IFI/UN agency on agricultural finance and development on empowering agrarian economies, enhancing food security and sustainable development. 

Open discussions

10:30–11:15

Session 2: Scaling-up Finance for Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture– Advancing Climate Action and Resilience and Global Food Security  

This session will examine the critical role of finance in transforming food systems to be more sustainable, low-emission and climate resilient. The discussion will highlight key means of implementation—mobilizing adequate finance, promoting inclusive access to technology and innovation, and investing in capacity building at all levels—to enable effective and equitable transitions in food and agriculture systems, in the context of adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage.

 

Moderator 

Panellists 

• Country case study on financing sustainable food systems and agriculture in the context of climate action and highlighting key policy and governance aspects.  

• Sub-national representative on efforts most effective in strengthening ability of local governments, smallholder farmers, and food system actors to attract climate finance. 

• A global collaboration or partnership highlighting holistic approaches to align financing with regional needs and global priorities food systems and agriculture 

• Multilateral institution/development agency on supporting long-term food security. 

Open discussions 

Group #1: Tailoring Finance to Regional and Local Needs  

This group will discuss how climate finance can be adapted to different regional and local realities in agriculture and food systems. It will highlight successful models and lessons learned for financing climate-resilient and sustainable practices across diverse contexts. 

Ice-breaker 

Discussion leader 

Group #2: Unlocking Climate Finance for Scaled-up Investments for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

This group will discuss how public and private finance can support shifts toward sustainable, resilient, and low-emission agriculture and food systems. It will examine institutional, technical, and policy barriers hindering finance flows and discuss strategies to strengthen investment, innovation, and inclusive access. 

Ice-breaker 

Discussion leader 

Moderator

Breakout group discussion leaders 

14:00–14:45 





 

Session 3: Strengthening Policy Coherence and Linkages 

 This session will explore how to strengthen policy and institutional coordination to increase and better align climate finance with sustainable food systems, agriculture and food security. It will examine opportunities to integrate food systems into national climate strategies, reform financial incentives, and improve coherence between public policies, climate goals, and international frameworks.  

Moderator  

Panellists 

Government representatives on national experiences in integrating sustainable agriculture into national planning NDCs/NAPs, and aligning and optimizing sectoral policies 

Representative from a climate fund or multilateral development bank who can discuss how their financing strategies align with and increase finance flows towards national plans and what support they provide for policy and institutional coherence. 

UN/IGO on policy alignment, who can provide analytical insights and data on aligning subsidies, fiscal policy, and climate planning with sustainability goals. 

Civil society or farmer network representative, who can highlight grassroots perspectives on how participatory policymaking can support coherence and inclusivity. 

Open discussions

Group 1: Aligning Climate Strategies and Finance with Agricultural Policies for Greater Impact 

This group will discuss how climate finance strategies can be aligned with agricultural and food security policies, including NDCs, NAPs, and national development plans. It will examine approaches to strengthen coherence across ministries, integrate ecosystem-based solutions and food security into climate planning, and ensure that policies work together to drive investment and impact on the ground. 

Ice-breaker 

Discussion leader  

Group 2: Repurposing Public Support and Subsidies for Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture 

This group will discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in reforming agricultural subsidies and enhancing public incentives to better promote sustainability, resilience, and equity. It will examine country experiences, policy tools, and accountability mechanisms to ensure that both public and private finance support just transitions in food systems and agriculture, while moving away from unsustainable practices. 

Ice-breaker 

Discussion leader 

Moderator

Day 2

09:30–10:30 




 

Session 4: Leveraging Financing Sources and Instruments for Long-term Investments in Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture 

This session will focus on how various financial sources and instruments—public, private, blended and innovative—can be mobilized to scale up climate finance for sustainable food systems and agriculture. It will explore how to enhance the effectiveness, sustainability, and inclusiveness of these sources and instruments and identify key actors and enabling conditions. It will also explore instruments for the agriculture and food security sector in responding to climate-induced loss and damage.

Moderator:

Panellists 

Representative from a developing country ministry of finance or agriculture – on challenges and opportunities in mobilizing and coordinating public and private finance at the national level, including public finance strategies and policy incentives. 

Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) or climate fund representative – on how public and concessional finance can be used to catalyze private investment, including through blended finance approaches and de-risking mechanisms.  

Private sector or impact investor representative – on insights into investor expectations, ESG criteria, and the enabling conditions needed to increase investment in sustainable agriculture and food systems. 

Farmer organization or cooperative representative (preferably smallholder-focused) – on whether financing instruments are reaching local actors and meeting their needs, and suggest how to make instruments more inclusive and impactful. 

Group 1: Leveraging Public and Private Sources for Mobilizing Scaled-Up Investments 

This group will discuss how public and private finance can be mobilized to scale up investment in sustainable food systems and agriculture. It will consider how various sources and instruments can expand access for farmers and local actors, attract private investment, and promote long-term impact. 

Ice-breaker 

Discussion leader  

Group 2: Leveraging Partnerships and Innovation for Equitable and Scalable Solutions  

This group will discuss how partnerships—such as public-private initiatives, multilateral collaboration, and community finance models—and financial innovations can mobilize sustainable, long-term investments for food systems and agriculture. It will discuss how cross-sector collaboration and innovative financing approaches can drive scalable, inclusive, and climate-resilient solutions tailored to local needs. 

Ice-breaker 

Discussion leader  

12:00–12:30 

Moderator

Breakout group discussion leaders 

12:30–13:45 

Networking lunch 

13:45–14:45 

Session 5: Building Readiness and Capacity for Accessing Finance for Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture  

 This session will focus on strengthening readiness and capacity at national and local levels to facilitate access to finance. It will explore possible readiness areas – such as inclusive financial systems, community-based delivery models, and data and monitoring capacities – and ways to strengthen institutional and technical assistance to support them.  
 

Moderator

Panellists 

National implementing entity or line ministry official from a developing country – who can share practical experiences in building institutional and technical readiness to access climate finance, including coordination across ministries and levels of government. 

Local financial institution or cooperative representative – who can discuss the role of local delivery models and inclusive financial systems in reaching underserved communities, especially smallholder farmers and women. 

Data/monitoring expert from a research institute or international organization – who can offer lessons on building data systems, finance tracking, and improving transparency and accountability in the use of climate finance. 

Capacity-building practitioner who can present approaches to strengthening technical capacities and supporting farmers and community actors in designing bankable projects and navigating access procedures. 

Open discussions 

Breakout Group 1: Strengthening Institutional and Technical Capacities

This group will discuss how to strengthen institutional and technical capacities at all levels to improve access to financing for sustainable food systems and agriculture. It will highlight challenges and possible solutions for overcoming readiness and capacity gaps in project design, financial governance and stakeholder coordination. 

Breakout Group 2: Inclusive Access and Community-Based Delivery Models

This group will discuss how inclusive financial systems and community-based approaches – such as cooperatives, rural banks, and local savings groups – can facilitate access to finance for smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, youth and women. It will also consider how participatory financing models and decentralized mechanisms can be scaled and sustained.

Moderator

Breakout group discussion leaders 

Closing remarks: SCF co-facilitators