Video: Climate finance blind spots – closing the gap

Farmers work on agricultural land affected by recent floods in Burka district in northern Baghlan province, Afghanistan. Photo © picture alliance / Xinhua News Agency | Saifurahman Safi

Watch our event recording to explore how global funding mechanisms can better reach fragile and conflict-affected contexts with insights from our Afghanistan report.

Despite growing recognition of the links between climate resilience, peace, and stability, climate finance rarely reaches the world’s most fragile settings. In countries like Afghanistan, local actors who have protected land, water, and forests for generations often remain underfunded and excluded from decision-making processes.

This event brought together experts and practitioners to discuss how climate finance can become more inclusive, effective, and conflict-sensitive. Drawing on lessons from our latest report, Climate finance in fragile contexts: Lessons from Afghanistan, we shared practical approaches for bridging the gap between global ambitions and local realities.

Key questions included:

• How can donors and funds engage country-based technical experts despite political constraints?
• What project designs can address local adaptation needs without deepening fault lines?
• How can transparency and alignment with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) commitments be strengthened?

As COP30 and recent Green Climate Fund reforms promise new opportunities, our discussion bridged local evidence and global policy, offering pathways towards more equitable and resilient climate finance delivery.

Climate finance blind spots – closing the gap

How can climate finance reach fragile and conflict-affected countries?

26 November 2025

16:00 - 17:00 CET

Online event via Zoom.

This event was held in English.

Welcome remarks by Dr. Chris Coulter, Executive Director, Berghof Foundation

Speakers:

• Dima Reda, Founder, Nataij Group, and Report Author
• Mauricio Vazquez, Head of Policy, Global Risks and Resilience, ODI
• Charity Watson, Climate, Peace and Security Advisor, UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
• Dr. Faiz Zaland, Professor, Kabul University

Moderated by Nazanine Moshiri, Senior Advisor Climate & Peace, Berghof Foundation.

Media contact

You can reach the press team at:
+49 (0) 177 7052758
email hidden; JavaScript is required