Sri Lanka’s Approach to Climate Change

MDF Sri Lanka works across sectors to support businesses build climate resilience and sustainable practices, by identifying requirements specific to their operations as well as sector. MDF recognises that partners may be reluctant to invest in climate change adaptation or mitigation, given that the short-term costs are often perceived to outweigh the benefits. Our strategy for climate change builds a compelling business case for change, as we do for women’s economic empowerment. Investing in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resilience can be a cost-effective way of protecting businesses, supply chains and communities.

Our approach to climate integration occurs in three stages: sector analysis and strategy development, intervention design and implementation, and measurement and learning.

Making the strategy work

Since 2021, MDF has strategically integrated climate change adaptation activities into existing interventions. In 2022, MDF broadened its scope and started building a portfolio that specifically addresses climate change impact and risk in the sectors in which we work. At present, over 50% of MDF Sri Lanka’s portfolio has been adjusted or designed to address climate change concerns, with the majority of interventions addressing both adaptation and mitigation.