Blended finance for climate and food security: The potential of the farm sector CDKN's Aditi Paul explores how blended finance approaches in the agriculture sector could provide small producers with the much-needed livelihood security they need, as well as climate resilience and food security.

Journey through the Green Climate Fund - Insights from Zaheer Fakir The Green Climate Fund’s 22nd board meeting kicks off this week in Songdo, Republic of Korea. This new film from SouthSouthNorth follows the journey of former Africa Board member and Co-Chair, Zaheer Fakir.

Ghana climate research reaches deep into farming communities The changing climate in northwest Ghana puts farming livelihoods and food security at risk. Now a project with multiple strands -- from youth engagement, to mobile phone apps, to community outreach centres -- is empowering farmers with the knowledge they need to innovate and adapt. Prince Ansah and Lucia Scodanibbio report.

How can research programmes foster wider climate resilience? Lucia Scodanibbio met researchers from the Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) programme to reflect on whether their experiences in building communities' climate resilience can be scaled up to wider levels. The experience of BRACED and others raises questions about how major research programmes can be most effective.

Learning into action – leveraging climate finance in Southern Africa In a new film released by SouthSouthNorth this week, climate finance practitioners in southern Africa share their experiences of accessing resources from the Green Climate Fund.

Film-making to support agri-extension in Uganda A new initiative under Future Climate for Africa (FCFA) is using film-making to improve communications between farmers and government officials in Uganda. Leonie Joubert reports.

New streamlined reporting will help local governments step up climate action ICLEI and CDP have launched a collaboration to simplify the climate reporting process to better support subnational governments to take faster and further action.

The potential of local climate innovation in Latin America An action research programme in Latin America has proven the potential of community-led innovation to build resilience to climate change - and shows how much could be achieved at scale, with the right external support. CDKN's Latin America team reports.

Global Resilience Partnership launches innovation challenge The Global Resilience Partnership and USAID have joined forces with KPMG to launch an innovation challenge - designed to identify and nurture novel examples of resilience in Africa and Asia.

African reporting fellowships available The Pan African Media Alliance for Climate Change (PAMACC) encourages East African journalists to apply for fellowship opportunities to report on the social and political implications of delivering weather and climate services in East Africa.

15 opportunities for private climate investment in South Africa Blaise Dobson of SouthSouthNorth describes how aligning national priorities, the private sector’s interests and multilateral climate finance frameworks can make investments in climate action a reality. A new study, commissioned by the Southern Africa Climate Finance Partnership, uses this approach to identify 15 opportunities ready for climate investment in South Africa’s transitioning economy.

Water: How to mobilise enough action on this crux adaptation issue? Climate finance provides a major opportunity to invest in more resilient water systems. However, climate financiers need a more holistic view of water management than they have demonstrated so far. Partnership with experienced water sector professionals in countries could provide the missing piece of the puzzle.