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Agribusinesses want to measure the impact of climate adaptation, so AICCRA is launching a masterclass

published onDecember 10, 2024

A new masterclass on Impact Measurement will equip agribusinesses with practical tools to track, improve, and communicate their climate adaptation impact, aligning with investor and regulatory expectations. The masterclass, developed with AICCRA, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and the ClimateShot Investor Coalition will emphasize starting small, building impact pathways, and leveraging adaptation tracking for sustainable growth.

In a changing climate, measuring impact isn’t just good practice—it’s a necessity. For agribusinesses, impact measurement goes beyond profits to assess how investments affect farmers, communities, and the environment. It’s about maximizing benefits while minimizing harm, aligning with goals that matter for the business and potential investors.

At the 8th Agrifin Learning Event, hosted by Mercy Corps recently in Nairobi, the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project brought together thirty agribusinesses and other organizations for a masterclass on impact measurement.

The focus was on simple, practical strategies to track and communicate how agribusinesses are making a difference in the face of climate change.

For agribusinesses, the benefits of impact measurement are clear:

Attract investors: Clear evidence of impact builds confidence among funders
Meet regulatory standards: increasingly, compliance with regulatory or certification standards requires tracking results and impacts
Ensure accountability: transparency about achievements keeps agribusinesses aligned with partners, investors, and consumers
Build brand reputation: commitment to impact fosters trust and credibility and enhances competitiveness in the market

Three practical steps to start measuring impact

The masterclass session outlined three practical steps for agribusinesses to begin their impact journey. These steps help to understand, track, improve, and showcase their added value for people, environment, and climate.

1. Build a story of impact

Impact measurement is not just about the numbers or about checking whether certain actions have been completed; it’s also about the story. The foundation of this story is the impact pathway framework. The impact pathway, as shown in Figure 1, provides a structured process to map challenges agribusinesses aim to solve (pain points); solutions they implement to address these challenges, such as core business activities; results or immediate outcomes; and impacts – the broader, long-term changes

Figure 1: An impact pathway framework maps pain points, solutions (or activities, strategies), results, and impacts into a story of impact

By framing impact as a story or pathway, agribusinesses can connect with stakeholders on a deeper level, showcasing not just what they do, but why it matters.

Why should agribusinesses pay attention to climate 'pain points'?

Adaptation tracking focuses on understanding how agribusinesses address climate-related pain points, such as droughts, erratic rainfall or heat stress, and how solutions mitigate these risks while maintaining operations. Measuring impact must include tracking how strategies respond to these challenges.

Integrating adaptation tracking into impact measurement ensures that agribusinesses to identify the specific climate risks threatening their operations and stakeholders - including farmers; to develop and implement solutions that address these risks effectively; and to track whether these solutions are building resilience and enhancing sustainability.

By explicitly linking impact measurement frameworks with climate pain points, agribusinesses can demonstrate not only their contributions to sustainability but also their ability to thrive and drive positive impact in the face of climate change.

2. Measure what matters

With countless indicators and standards available—covering everything from financial performance to social and environmental outcomes—how can agribusiness choose?

The best indicators are those that allow telling the impact story effectively. The impact pathway helps focus measurement efforts by clearly linking risks, activities, expected results, and impacts. By using it as a guide, agribusinesses can identify indicators that are directly tied to their objectives and demonstrate progress, by testing the validity of the pathway. This enables agribusinesses to compellingly communicate their impact, fostering deeper connections with stakeholders and enhancing their overall narrative.

AICCRA Research Team Lead, Andreea Nowak (top left) leading the session on impact tracking. (Photo credit: AICCRA/Esther Nzuki)

3. Start small and build big

Impact measurement doesn’t need to be daunting. Starting with simple, achievable metrics can lay the foundation for more sophisticated systems down the line. For instance, many agribusinesses begin by tracking straightforward indicators such as the number of farmers reached, jobs created, or hectares of land covered by a climate-smart agriculture initiative. These “low-hanging fruits” are easier to measure and provide a baseline for understanding progress.

From there, businesses can gradually expand their efforts. As capacity and resources grow, they can incorporate more complex indicators like soil health improvements, adoption of climate-smart practices, or resilience outcomes. Emerging technologies, such as digital surveys and remote sensing, are making these advancements increasingly accessible, even for smaller enterprises.

By starting small, agribusinesses can build confidence in their measurement systems, demonstrate immediate value to stakeholders, and create a pathway for scaling impact efforts as their ambitions and capacities evolve. The journey may start with simple steps, but it lays the groundwork for transformative change.

Coming soon: Self-paced e-learning programme on impact measurement

The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT is pivotal in advancing adaptation tracking, which is essential for effective adaptation investments. The Alliance is developing several capacity-building initiatives to address unique needs for adaptation tracking.

Adaptation Insights launched in October 2024 leverages the data, partnerships, and scientific expertise of CGIAR – the world’s largest publicly funded research partnership for food security – to increase the availability, quality, and use of data and methods for tracking climate adaptation in agriculture – particularly in Africa. This will be accomplished through a synthesis of available data on adaptation actions and their effectiveness, establishing knowledge management systems to enhance access to data and methods for adaptation tracking, and outreach.

Additionally, buidling on the event at the 8th AgriFin Learning Event, the Climate Action Team and AICCRA are organizing an upcoming Masterclass on Impact Measurement and Tracking in a Climate Context. This online, self-paced course aims to equip agribusinesses with the practical skills to identify, measure, and communicate their impact. By combining interactive formats with modular learning, the program ensures accessibility and relevance for businesses operating in various contexts.

This e-learning program, developed in collaboration with the ClimateShot Investor Coalition (CLIC), is set to launch in 2025.

Get involved

If you are an agribusiness, register your interest in participating in the Masterclass for Impact Measurement and Tracking in a Climate Context as a participant, mentor, ambassador, or advocate.