Adaptation needs in Asia-Pacific are growing, especially for smallholder farmers, small enterprises and other vulnerable communities. Very little private capital reaches them. Public and concessional finance alone will not close the gap, and private investors still have limited information on where adaptation investment is viable and how to take part. 

This roundtable brings together Nordic investors, funds and regulators, development finance actors, and policymakers and negotiators interested in private adaptation finance. The aim is to start a conversation on how private capital can support adaptation for vulnerable communities in Asia-Pacific, and on the role Nordic actors could play. 

The discussion draws on ICCAP (Inclusive Climate Finance for Vulnerable Communities in Asia-Pacific). ICCAP is funded by the German Government’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) and led by the Centre for Finance for Sustainability at SEI Asia. It works with financial institutions, investors and policymakers across six countries i.e Bangkladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos and Fiji, in the region to make adaptation solutions bankable and to develop inclusive and protective policy frameworks. 

The roundtable aims to:

1. Make adaptation finance in Asia-Pacific visible to Nordic actors. Share what ICCAP is learning about how adaptation solutions can attract private finance. 

2. Understand the barriers. Hear from investors, CSOs on what limits private engagement in adaptation, and what information, instruments or partnerships would change that. 

3. Link finance and policy. Discuss which policy and regulatory frameworks, in Asia-Pacific and the Nordic countries, would make private adaptation finance more viable while protecting the communities it is meant to serve. 

4. Build a network for follow-up. Identify participants interested in continuing the conversation with ICCAP after COP31.