The 2025 edition of the SCALA Highlights Report showcases how the SCALA programme supported countries to move from climate planning to implementation across agrifood systems. The report highlights progress made throughout 2025 in strengthening evidence-based policymaking, supporting the preparation and implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), improving monitoring and reporting systems under the UNFCCC, and fostering stronger public-private collaboration for climate action. Through country-led and inclusive approaches, SCALA continued to help governments translate climate commitments into practical action on the ground.
Key highlights from the report
- Strengthening climate planning and implementation: 11 SCALA countries completed systems-level assessments that informed agriculture and land-use priorities, supported updates to NDCs and NAPs, and contributed to the preparation of bankable climate project concept notes.
- Supporting ambitious climate commitments: 8 SCALA-supported countries submitted updated NDCs to the UNFCCC, while Mongolia submitted its first National Adaptation Plan with technical and financial support from the programme.
- Advancing transparency and monitoring systems: 8 countries strengthened Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems for adaptation and mitigation, helping improve reporting under the Paris Agreement and the Enhanced Transparency Framework.
- Building national and local capacity: More than 1,650 representatives from governments, the private sector, civil society and academia strengthened their capacities in climate adaptation planning, climate-smart agriculture, and adaptation and mitigation monitoring and reporting.
- Mobilizing climate finance: SCALA-supported evidence, assessments and project preparation processes helped leverage more than US$62 million in climate finance for adaptation and resilient agrifood systems.
- Enhancing private sector engagement: Through the SCALA Private Sector Engagement Facility, 11 additional non-SCALA countries received targeted support to strengthen public-private collaboration and identify investment opportunities for climate action.
- Generating practical tools and knowledge products: The report features flagship analyses, technical guidance, policy briefs and innovative tools developed throughout the year, including the launch of Agrifood systems in National Adaptation Plans: An analysis at COP30.
- Showcasing country experiences and lessons learned: Case studies from Cambodia, Argentina, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Colombia, Nepal, Mongolia, Costa Rica and other partner countries demonstrate how climate ambition is being translated into concrete action across agrifood systems.
- Promoting inclusive and gender-responsive climate action: The report highlights how SCALA integrated gender equality, social inclusion and Nature-based Solutions into adaptation planning, policy development and investment processes.
- Sharing knowledge globally: SCALA results, lessons learned and country experiences were showcased through nine international events and forums throughout 2025, helping strengthen global dialogue on adaptation and agrifood systems transformation.