Providing entrepreneurs with technical tools is essential for integrating adaptation measures into their business models and increasing their climate resilience. This building block combines financial mechanisms in building block 2 with non-financial services—including coaching programs and specialized technical assistance—to support entrepreneurs from the pre-incubation through incubation stages. A special aspect is that this coaching is not only provided after the successful application of entrepreneurs but also during the application phase. Thus supporting good ideas to become successful, climate-resilient businesses that incorporating EbA measures into their business models.  

The training builds foundational knowledge of climate change, territorial vulnerability, and sector-specific adaptation measures and the individualized support strengthens entrepreneurs' abilities to develop financing proposals, create sustainable business plans, and identify context-appropriate marketing strategies.

The coaching program also facilitates networking among entrepreneurs to integrate their ventures into local and national value chains and markets. Business fairs and exchange events are key components of the program design.

This comprehensive approach strengthens entrepreneurial competencies while ensuring investments and financing create meaningful impact on climate resilience and local development

Strengthening and consolidating climate-resilient rural ventures requires financing products that support these initiatives from inception. Rural entrepreneurs often encounter barriers to accessing traditional credit financing, particularly during the startup phase of their business models.

In this context, non-repayable funds—also known as seed capital—serve as a vital tool. This financing enables entrepreneurs to prototype promising ideas that can become dynamic ventures, fosters an entrepreneurial culture in rural territories, and provides crucial support during the early "valley of death" phase of business development.

This building block focuses on developing open public calls for seed capital funds that incorporate climate change adaptation criteria across business models. The design of these calls must include clear eligibility requirements for climate resilience, adaptation practices, and profitable business models with measurable socio-environmental impact. This financing can particularly benefit ventures led by youth, women, and vulnerable rural populations—making it essential to consider these demographics in the eligibility criteria

The Development Banking System (SBD), a second-tier financial entity of the Costa Rican state, has the mandate to provide financing for vulnerable individuals in rural Costa Rica at favorable rates, particularly focusing on women and youth. Though there are existing institutional policies and strategies at national and territorial levels, there are large gaps in integrating climate change adaptation as an investment priority for financial entities. 

Until recently, climate change and the concepts of climate resilience and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) have been largely absent from the agenda of SBD. However, by providing training and capacity-building on these topics, the SBD can now pave the way for the development of innovative financial products and the enhancement of existing ones. 

Additionally, developing monitoring and evaluation systems for financial products helps measure the impact of adaptation measures integrated into local enterprises' business models. This strengthens transparency and builds trust among the financial sector, beneficiaries, decision-makers, and international financiers.

In this project, the The Rwanda Agriculture Board has partnered with SOS Children's Villages Rwanda, a child protection agency, which actively advocates for the promotion of childcare and child protection. This partnership has linked children families with nature conservation and sustainable agriculture. It reinforced the institutional bond between agriculture-environment protection and child protection institutions.

The intervention followed a dialogical, farmer-centred, problem-solving approach. Starting with six farmers, the project used community learning to co-design interventions. It scaled gradually by demonstrating visible results. Farmers participated in identifying soil degradation drivers and jointly designed context-appropriate agroforestry systems. Through empowerment and co-learning, the number of farmers rose to over 1,000. This process built ownership, strengthened resilience, and ensured equity. Children and youth were engaged through household and school-based activities, promoting early NbS awareness.

The project introduced tree and shrub hedgerows along contour lines, intercropped with maize and beans, to rebuild soil fertility and control erosion. Double hedgerows spaced at 10m intervals and inter-row distances of 30cm allowed farmers to grow up to 121 trees and 8,623 shrubs per hectare without compromising crop yields. Trees provided shade, cooking fuel, and biomass; shrubs offered forage and green manure. Mulching from biomass and crop residues maintained soil moisture and improved microbial activity. This system proved to increase yields, reduce crop failure during dry spells, and restore degraded lands.

Strong collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, local farmers, and private sector partners mobilizes resources, enhances project sustainability, and empowers local communities. 

Women and youth are prioritized for training, ensuring equitable access to new agricultural technologies and leadership opportunities. 

Testing these microbial formulations on coffee farms ensures their effectiveness and builds local capacity in sustainable agricultural practices. 

The project uses genomic sequencing and metagenomic analyses to identify effective bioactive pest control agents. These lab-based solutions are translated into practical, farmer-friendly products through farmer field schools and demonstration plots. The project’s microbial formulations were developed with a plan to optimize and re-test the most effective formula for broader adoption. 

Top-level athletes have an important communications platform at their disposal and can lead by example, making them key contributors to the Healthy Waters Alliance’s goals. By using this awareness-raising potential, they can help bring attention to the degradation of freshwater and coastal ecosystems, increase visibility of practical solutions, and drive greater public engagement and action. 

Appointing athlete ambassadors dedicated to the cause strengthens the movement. With the launch of the Healthy Waters Alliance, World Rowing have engaged Christine Cavallo (USA) and Martin Helseth (NOR) as the first World Rowing Healthy Waters Ambassadors, and are now looking to expand this into a global Athlete Ambassador Programme with representatives from each continent.

Athletes inspire action more effectively than generic messages, making initiatives more relatable and engaging. For example, Norwegian Olympian Martin Helseth led a powerful environmental initiative through the World Rowing – WWF Healthy Waters Alliance to inspire action across Norway’s rowing community. The project demonstrated how athletes can effectively engage the public and protect nature by addressing water pollution in the Oslo Fjord. The initiative includes two key phases: 

• Phase 1: Clean-Up Week (3–8 June 2025) – Timed with World Ocean Day, rowing clubs in Oslo conducted seabed dives, shoreline clean-ups, and environmental education to tackle local pollution. 
• Phase 2: Oslo Fjord Restoration Day (23 August 2025) – This phase will focus on habitat restoration and youth involvement, supported by the local NGO Marea.

Helseth’s leadership exemplifies how athlete ambassadors can lead grassroots environmental efforts with global impact, aiming to foster a new generation of nature protectors in rowing and beyond.