Interview: How to strengthen funding for global South communities to lead on climate and nature solutions – reflections from COP30
Jonathas Azevedo, a member of the Global South House which is a platform for philanthropic actors, reflects on the progress made at COP30 in bringing people together to discuss what stronger leadership on climate and nature funding should look like.
The Global South House is a platform bringing together philanthropic actors from the global South, for the global South. Its aim is to redirect resource flows and challenge power dynamics so that communities in global South territories – and the local solutions they champion – are at the centre of global conversations on climate and nature funding.
At COP30 in Brazil, the Global South House hosted a range of events, providing a space to connect and build synergies. IIED is a knowledge partner of the Global South House and is documenting the strategic messages emerging from the discussions at COP.
In this interview, we ask Jonathas Azevedo (JA) about the Global South House COP30 experience.
Jonathas Azevedo is the executive director of the Brazilian-based Comuá Network, one of the conveners of the Global South House
Q: How did the agenda/discussions at COP30 speak to the needs and priorities of the Global South House?
JA: The Brazilian presidency framed COP30 as the "COP of implementation" and the "COP of truth," emphasising the need for a solutions-oriented approach.
Reflecting this focus, the Global South House centred its agenda on highlighting the crucial role of existing global South funding mechanisms and infrastructure – namely, socio-environmental funds. These funds are vital for ensuring resources reach the communities, civil society organisations and movements most affected by climate change, thereby strengthening locally-led climate solutions.
A primary goal was to bridge the gap between global financing and local needs given that financing was a key negotiation point at COP30. The Global South House effectively showcased flexible, trust-based and accessible funding mechanisms, offering a clear alternative to the bureaucratic systems that often exclude the people who need resources most urgently.
In this way, our house significantly contributed to the global mutirão (the collective effort) as well as other debates being pushed for civil society in spaces such as the People's Summit.
The message was not merely a request for increased funding but a demand for a fundamental shift in how that money flows to make sure it directly supports the territories protecting our biomes.
Global South House members at the first meeting (Photo: copyright Sofia Hage/Ventos Do Norte)
Q: As the world looks for effective solutions to address the climate crisis, what can be learned from the experiences shared at the Global South House?
JA: One of the biggest takeaways from the Global South House is that the most effective solutions already exist – they just need to be properly resourced.
Throughout the seven days of activities, members of Rede Comuá and Alianza Fondos del Sur, as well as of our partners for the COP30 activities, Network of Community Funds of the Amazon and #ShiftThePower movement, made it clear that another way is possible.
We learned that when you remove rigid bureaucratic barriers and trust local leaders, you get agility and impact. For instance, we heard powerful stories and concrete examples about innovative arrangements and partnerships between socio-environmental funds and other actors in the funding ecosystem, such as national and development banks.
The initiative Teia da Sociobiodiversidade, a partnership between Fundos Casa Socioambiental and the Fundo Socioambiental da Caixa (from the national bank, Caixa Econômica Federal), is an example of the effectiveness of funding mechanisms created by our members and we were able to hear more from it at the Global South House.
There is a huge lesson here for the rest of the world: let's value those experiences and mechanisms that already exist, especially in the global South!
Panel discussion at the Global South House first meeting (Photo: copyright Sofia Hage/Ventos Do Norte)
Q: What were the main conclusions of the Global South House from its first meeting?
JA: The house culminated in a strong consensus – also articulated in our 'manifesto' – that we need a new financing architecture that prioritises socio-environmental justice. Funding for climate, nature and people must be flexible, transparent and directly accessible to grassroots movements, putting their struggles for rights at the centre of any decision-making process.
Another key takeaway was the power of South-South cooperation. Gathering funds (and partners) from Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia throughout our seven days of activities proved that only collective organising and solidarity can show us the way out of the current climate and democratic crises. And we must make sure funding reaches those at the forefront of the defence of rights and of our ecosystems!
Finally, our house has made it clear that the global South is a powerhouse of innovation. The mutirão spirit has always existed in our communities and territories, so we know that collective, community-led action is the only viable path forward for genuine planetary restoration.
Q: What are the next steps for the Global South House?
JA: Now that the foundation has been laid at COP30, the next steps are all about turning it into a permanent, influential force. The immediate next step is to look back at the experience, engaging our team, members and partners in this learning journey.
We will also dive into all the content and knowledge that was shared and produced in the past months, so we can disseminate it more widely. So stay tuned to our newsletter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram profiles, as in the upcoming months you will definitely hear more from us through those channels!
Since its inception, the Global South House was never just about COPs, despite being launched at COP30 – we want to go further. We will be a constant platform for advocacy and convening for socio-environmental funds and our networks. So expect to see us at other events.
Make sure to keep an eye om our official website and social media channels to hear more from us.
