Adapting from the ground up: Enabling Small Businesses in Developing Countries to Adapt to Climate Change

Since the majority of the population in the developing world relies on micro and small businesses for their livelihoods, it is imperative that this segment of the economy becomes more resilient to future climate impacts. At the same time, these businesses are well positioned to develop and sell products and services that strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities.The report explains the breadth of barriers facing these businesses, including access to information and finance, technical capacity, and policy. The public sector can play a significant role in enabling this sector of the economy to adapt to climate change, using creative and thoughtful interventions that are low-cost and sustainable. The report proposes a number of interventions that policymakers can use to address the barriers and actionably support vulnerable business enterprises.