Many governments in low- and middle-income countries see improving rural development as a way to achieve critical national development objectives: economic transformation, eradication of poverty and greater equality. A lack of finance, however, constrains the full implementation of national public policies for rural development.

Before the Green Climate Fund (GCF) considers the role of the private sector in meeting the climate finance needs of developing countries, it should first ask: what are the needs of the people living in those countries as they confront the climate crisis, especially the poorest and most vulnerable?