This publication describes climate-smart agriculture case studies that apply the five action points for CSA implementation. The action points are:

1. expanding the evidence base for CSA,

2. supporting enabling policy frameworks,

3. strengthening national and local institutions,

4. enhancing funding and financing options, and

5. implementing CSA practices at field level.

The case studies discuss context-specific activities that contribute to CSA’s three pillars:

• sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes,

• adapting and building resilience of people and agri-food systems to climate change, and

• reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions where possible.

Many of the case studies pay special attention to smallholder farmers, including women and indigenous groups, who are particularly affected by the impacts of climate change.

A diverse group of stakeholders contributed case studies, reflecting the importance of coordinating national-level CSA activities, for example by including research findings in policymaking processes, and leveraging public sector funding to attract private sector investment.

Key messages:

• Results under the three pillars of CSA are best achieved through a comprehensive strategy, such as the five action points approach highlighted in this publication.

• The five action points of the CSA approach are all crucial to effectively implement CSA; they have been applied in various contexts to achieve results under the three CSA pillars.

• Not all projects need to focus on all five action points. In addition, the action points are not necessarily consecutive actions, but rather actions that may or may not be undertaken at the same time; ideally, they reinforce each other to create an enabling environment. For example, a robust evidence base should support enabling policy frameworks, national and local institutions, funding and financing options, and the implementation of CSA practices at field level. Each of these actions may in turn generate valuable knowledge that feeds back into the evidence base.

• Knowledge sharing and working with diverse partners is essential for all five action points, as the sum of the knowledge and practices of various partners is larger than its parts.

• Regarding action point 1, building the evidence base for CSA, the case studies confirm that the linkages between agriculture and climate change are site-specific. Analysis based on site-specific findings may therefore lead to the selection of different climate-smart agricultural practices for different sites.

• On action point 2, supporting enabling policy frameworks, the case studies show that governments are already working to operationalize their approach to agriculture under climate change, working with partners at the regional, national and provincial levels.

• Action point 3, strengthening national and local institutions, is shown to require a capacity building approach which entails a range of activities, including the drafting of guidelines, the dissemination of best practices, and training.

• The case studies related to action point 4, enhancing options for financing and funding, expand the scope of this action point and emphasize the need for access to climate finance instruments, creating links between climate and agricultural finance and investments, and considering climate change in agricultural planning and budgeting. Innovative finance mechanisms are proposed, such as to help farmers invest in CSA practices and unlock the potential of large-scale public-private partnerships to attract resources.

• Finally, the case studies on implementing practices at field level, or action point 5, highlight the importance of gaining a good understanding of the diverse needs and priorities of farmers and working directly with them. The case studies demonstrate that CSA must be considered as encompassing a broad range of practices. The studies illustrate how tools such as Farmer Field Schools, demonstration plots and information and communications technology may prove valuable in a range of settings.