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PROJECT DANDELION Smallholder Farmers

Demand investment where
the impact is the greatest.

Funded by the Gates Foundation, WRTHY developed and launched Project Dandelion’s newest global campaign on International Day of Rural Women, October 15, 2025. The campaign urged world leaders and multilateral development banks to increase investment in smallholder farms ahead of COP30. Smallholder farmers are essential to the global food system, supplying one-third of the world's food and nearly 70% in Africa (FAO).

Yet they receive less than 1% of climate finance (IFAD). Despite their critical role, these farmers are highly vulnerable to climate shocks, and this funding gap leaves millions without the necessary resources to adapt.

Women farmers are central to this issue, driving innovation, supporting economies and families, and leading the way in climate-smart agriculture. Research highlights the significant potential of investing in them: matching resources to their contributions could boost the global economy by US$1 trillion (FAO).

The current communications narrative is part of the challenge. Calls for justice and equity often portray women farmers as targets for aid, not the innovators they are. Rural women are represented, but their power, both individually and collectively, as a force for change, is rarely leveraged.  This creates a perception that smallholder farmers are ‘small’ -  vulnerable, helpless, and in need of aid. When the reality is, their adaptability in the face of climate adversity is ingenious. They are driving innovation due to necessity. They are leading in productivity.  They are a powerful climate solution and worthy of investment.

projectdandelion.com
“Smallholders are anything but 'small' - they power our food system, drive rural economies and lead innovative climate solutions that benefit us all. The lack of investment in women farmers is not just an injustice, it is holding back the solutions we urgently need,” said Mary Robinson, Co-Founder of Project Dandelion and first woman President of Ireland.
irishtimes.com
chicagotribune.com

Funded by the Gates Foundation in partnership with IFAD, the campaign illustrates the transformative results that happen when access to finance, technology, and decision-making power is gained: productivity rises, resilience strengthens, and communities thrive. By putting smallholder farmers, especially women, at the center of climate action, leaders have the opportunity to unlock scalable solutions that feed nations, protect livelihoods, and drive inclusive economic growth.

105 global organizations, including SEWA, WEA, the International Land Coalition, WWF,  Fairtrade, CARE and more, shared the campaign with 21,362,917 followers. 70+ new organizations joined the PD coalition to help amplify the message.

Over the course of the 8 week flight, with zero paid media, the campaign garnered 100 million impressions across earned, owned and organic media. The campaign secured two op eds, the first - in the Chicago Tribune authored by Mary Robinson and the second authored by Mary Robinson and Alvaro Laria, CEO of IFAD in the Irish Times. Most importantly, agrifood systems and smallholders’ contributions gained central recognition at COP30.

100M

media IMPRESSIONS

173K

campaign engagement

300+

press pickups

105

global organization
shared the campaign

As we enter 2026, the UN Year of the Woman Farmer, this campaign plays an important role in centering smallholder farmers as leaders of resilience, not recipients of charity.