Scaling Climate Finance for Local Impact: Investing in People, Nature, and Resilience
With ODA cuts and weakened global climate commitments, the need to diversify capital flows and ensure funding reaches local communities has never been more urgent. Yet, many climate finance models still prioritize scale over quality, leaving smallholder farmers, Indigenous communities, and locally-led conservation efforts without the resources needed for long-term resilience.
This session will explore innovative approaches to climate finance, including systemic investing, bioregional approaches, and regenerative finance models that align capital with nature, livelihoods, and adaptation efforts. We will discuss how to shift from short-term, high-quantity funding to investments that prioritize infrastructure, capacity-building, and real impact. Participants will also engage in learning exchanges on measuring climate adaptation outcomes, ensuring accountability, and activating financial systems that support inclusive, locally-driven solutions.
Key Questions:
How can we diversify and decentralize climate finance to ensure capital reaches the communities that need it most?
What does effective, high-impact climate finance look like, and how can it move beyond numbers to deliver real results?
How can we mobilize funding for conservation, adaptation, and community resilience while avoiding extractive financial models?
What role do Indigenous and regenerative financial practices play in shifting climate finance toward sustainability?
How can we measure and track climate adaptation and resilience outcomes to improve accountability and effectiveness?
This session will bring together funders, conservation leaders, investors, and grassroots changemakers to explore how to build a more effective, locally-led climate finance ecosystem that drives long-term environmental and economic resilience.
Session Co-Leaders:
Adora Li is a founding partner at Brightkey Partners, connecting capital to locally led, long-term bioregional transitions in majority world countries.
Alison Filler is the founder of Sapio Labs, specializing in climate tech strategy and regenerative economic models.
Basilia Shivute is Senior Operations Manager at IRDNC, supporting 30 community-based organizations in Namibia with a focus on conservation and rural development.
Juliana Strobel is Climate Action Director at Fundación Avina, focused on regenerative futures and locally led solutions.
Natalie Shriber-Klatt is Head of Investments at Heading for Change, with 15+ years in global private markets and a focus on personal transformation.
Thabiso Foto is CFO at BFA Global/The Catalyst Fund, leveraging finance and investments for socioeconomic development across sectors.
Nonsi Nkomo is Business Development Manager at Solidaridad Southern Africa, advancing climate resilience and strategic partnerships across the continent.