AECF, GEF and UNIDO Officially Launch Catalyzing Women-Focused Climate-Smart Investments through Climate Adaptation Technologies and Climate Resilience Services (Women ADAPT) Project

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Benin and Burkina Faso (September 18, 2026) – The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), today announced the launch of the Women ADAPT project — Catalyzing Women-Focused Climate-Smart Investments through Climate Adaptation Technologies and Climate Resilience Services.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under the GEF Challenge Program for Adaptation Innovation, Women ADAPT is a two-year project that aims to strengthen the climate resilience of women entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and smallholder farmers in Benin and Burkina Faso by facilitating access to climate-smart technologies, tailored financial services, and digital climate information solutions.

In his remarks during the launch, Dr. Noboru Zama, Industrial Development Expert, UNIDO, said:

“While climate impacts affect entire communities, women often face the greatest barriers. Yet women are also powerful agents of change, driving innovation, strengthening livelihoods, and contributing to sustainable economic growth. The Women ADAPT project is designed to provide targeted financing and support women overcome climate-related barriers that keep them from reaching their full potential.”

The AECF’s West Africa Director, Lotfi Kourdali, noted that the Women Adapt project builds directly on AECF’s Investing in Women (IIW) flagship initiative in Benin and Burkina Faso, funded by Global Affairs Canada. IIW established relationships with women-led enterprises, cooperatives and financial institutions across both countries – but without a dedicated climate adaptation component. Women Adapt closes that gap, protecting those investments against the climate shocks that threaten them.

The programme aims to:

• Improve access for women-led MSMEs and smallholder farmers to digital platforms that provide climate information, technologies, and market linkages.
• Strengthen knowledge, financial access, and adoption of climate-smart agriculture by women-led MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), cooperatives, and smallholder farmers.
• Support MFIs (microfinance institutions), cooperatives, and women-led MSMEs to adopt climate risk management frameworks and improve climate-resilient service delivery.
• Track, document, and share programme learning, results, good practices, and adaptation knowledge across stakeholders and platforms.

The expected results include improved adaptive capacity among over 4,600 women. The results also include increased land productivity, climate resilience, and income stability, as well as strengthened national systems for delivering gender-inclusive climate services.

About GEF

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the world’s family of environmental funds. As the financial mechanism for six multilateral conventions, GEF supports countries’ efforts to tackle the root causes of environmental degradation as they strive for international environmental goals.

Website link: Home | GEF

About UNIDO

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is a specialized United Nations agency with a unique mandate to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development. It supports developing countries and emerging economies in building and transforming their industries.

Website link: https://www.unido.org/

About AECF

The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) provides catalytic funding and technical assistance to support innovative, inclusive business models in frontier markets across Africa, focusing on agriculture and renewable energy. AECF aims to reduce poverty and drive economic transformation through market-based solutions.

Website link: Home – AECF

 

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