Financial Inclusion and Resilience (FIRE): Leveraging Risk-Tolerant Crowdfunded Capital for Innovative Climate Adaptation

Climate change is putting financial inclusion at risk. As droughts, floods, and storms become more frequent, credit risk rises and financial institutions are pulling back from lending in the world's most vulnerable communities — threatening the stability of microfinance institutions and the livelihoods of the 1.4 billion adults who remain financially excluded.

FIRE tackles this challenge head-on in Uganda and Madagascar, using risk-tolerant, crowdfunded capital to expand financial inclusion and strengthen climate resilience — especially for communities in and around conserved areas. By assessing climate risk with borrowers and Kiva's Lending Partners, the project will help develop new and improved climate-smart financial products, a dedicated climate crisis support loan, and a practical toolkit of best practices for microfinance institutions across the region.