Our Theory of Change

Our theory

Theory of Change

Clim-Eat, a think-and-do tank, is set up to enable and facilitate out-of-the-box thinking to accelerate evidence-based action and policy. By ‘thinking’, where science and evidence underpin our work and identified solutions, Clim-Eat aims to facilitate effective ‘doing’ (action) by bridging gaps between science, policy and action for climate action in food systems.

We are addressing a complex puzzle where technologies, strategies, and policies must fit together, with harmonisation at local, national, and global levels, to create a sustainable and food secure future.

Clim-Eat seeks to be an ‘accelerator’, which means we help identify and work through bottlenecks in the messy, often multi-stakeholder processes of scaling solutions. Clim-Eat’s work works within four thematic areas of work (4 R’s) that support a transition to resilient and low-emission food systems in LMICs:

Realigning policies, finance and support to social movements and innovation
De-risking livelihoods, farms and value chains
Rerouting farming and rural livelihoods to new trajectories
Reducing emissions through diets and value chains

The theoretical basis for Clim-Eat’s activities comes from best practice in science-policy engagement for climate action in agriculture, which identified the ‘three thirds principle’ for success. This envisages a third of efforts focused on engagement, evidence, and outreach equally. Clim-Eat embodies this by combining evidence with strategic engagement and targeted outreach to identify needs and solutions, create windows of opportunity, support and nurture commitment and buy-in, and facilitate a deal-making process.

Through this model, Clim-Eat aims to solidify opportunities and outcomes to catalyse innovative action for food and climate. We aim to produce evidence-based proposals and roadmaps for actionable solutions. For them to be effective we complement our efforts by creating awareness, buy-in, partnerships and coalitions.

Evidence

Evidence generation

We produce and provide knowledge on innovative technical and methodological solutions by conducting research on existing challenges, and potential solutions for food systems challenges.

We identify what is on the horizon for food and climate and synthesise and translate this knowledge into actionable insights in a user-oriented format for target audiences.

Evidence underpins all of Clim-Eat’s work, as evidence is the foundation for effective engagement and outreach.

Our engagement

Engagement

From world leaders to farmers, we bring the right people together, fostering connections for impact. Clim-Eat engages with a wide array of actors, building up trust and engaging in open and action-oriented discussions to break silos, foster collaboration, and catalyse action. We do this in different ways:

Identifying and creating partnerships with key decision-makers across the public and private sector, to understand their needs alongside our understanding of local needs in LMICs identified through our research, to cultivate the best solutions.

Underpinned by evidence, we engage in and advise on national and global policy processes and discussions, sharing lessons from other actors where applicable.

We organise multi-stakeholder dialogues to encourage discussion and create new, and unusual, partnerships that are strong, meaningful, and effective for maximising impact.

Our outreach

Outreach

Here the focus is on getting evidence into use, shaping new narratives and improving science-policy linkages to catalyse action.

We help enhance the capacity of decision makers to adopt knowledge and catalyse action in LMICs.

We develop strategic narratives and communication campaigns to a wide network of stakeholders.

We use our platform to share learnings as well as provide bold, critical and constructive thought leadership on the future of food systems under climate change.

Expected Outcomes

By 2030, Clim-Eat will have changed the way actors work. Specifically, ensuring that action is undertaken with the core principles of flexibility, inclusivity, and innovation to support resilient and sustainable food systems in LMICs. Our work will play a foundational part in demonstrating increased evidence-based policies and programmes, increased funding and piloting of innovative solutions, and the use of business unusual operating models.

In order to realise the overarching impact of improved and accelerated action towards resilient and low-emissions food systems, Clim-Eat will contribute to: