On 10 June 2025, finance experts and resilience researchers convened in Amsterdam for the workshop From Insights to Impact: Advancing Inclusive Finance for Resilience in a World of Compounding Risk. Co-hosted by CGAP and GRP, the workshop aimed to explore how the Resilience Science Must-Knows can inform and shape inclusive financial systems in the face of accelerating global risks.
The Resilience Science Must-Knows synthesises the nine most critical and actionable insights from cutting-edge resilience research. The Must-Knows are based on an expert consultation with over 200 resilience researchers, complemented by a literature review, and the expertise of an editorial board consisting of 20 leading resilience scholars from across different geographical regions and areas of resilience.
“In the face of escalating risks, which are hitting harder and more frequently, building resilience for those on the frontlines of the climate crisis is crucial, and inclusive finance will be instrumental for achieving this,” said Claudia McKay, Lead, Green and Resilient Outcomes, CGAP. “But it is not yet being used to its full potential.”
As highlighted by Claudia McKay, Lead Financial Sector Specialist at CGAP, resilience is needed now more than ever. In a globalised world that is experiencing an expansion and escalation of extreme weather events amplified by climate change, geopolitical and societal tensions, and misinformation, resilience capacities to persist, adapt, and transform are key.
“This workshop was a great forum for bringing industry leaders together around this critical question,” she added. “What is abundantly clear is that inclusive finance has the ability to empower low-income populations and MSEs to absorb shocks, build long-term adaptive capacity, and boost the effectiveness of national policies and programs, and therefore much needs to be done through innovation, scale, and capacity building of financial service providers to fully harness this opportunity.”
Feedback on the Resilience Science Must-Knows
During the workshop, participants provided feedback on the Resilience Science Must-Knows and how these can be integrated for inclusive climate finance.
A critical reflection emerged: For whom are we building resilience? The group underscored the need to identify clearly the intended beneficiaries of inclusive finance initiatives aimed at building or strengthening resilience. Whether supporting vulnerable communities or enhancing institutional capacity, understanding who stands to benefit helps ensure efforts are properly targeted, equitable, and ultimately impactful.
One of the Must-Knows brings up the concept that not all forms of resilience are beneficial. The participants discussed the idea of negative resilience—when systems resist change and reinforce harmful or unsustainable pathways. A fossil fuel-based economy, for instance, may be resilient to disruption, yet misaligned with long-term sustainability goals. To be effective, finance for resilience must both strengthen positive resilience and actively address negative forms. Moreover, participants cautioned against inadvertently undermining existing resilience—particularly that which is already present within communities or ecosystems.
Participants recognised the limitations of technocratic communication. While data and statistics remain important, stories resonate at a human level. As one attendee noted, “The language of science speaks to the head; the language of stories speaks to the heart.” Effective communication must engage both, using storytelling to contextualise evidence and make resilience issues relatable. This approach is particularly powerful when tailored to specific audiences.
Information alone does not drive action. The attendees also stressed the importance of addressing the psychological and emotional barriers that often prevent or delay change. Recognising these factors within the Resilience Science Must-Knows could enable more effective interventions. In doing so, efforts to encourage behavioural shifts—whether at the individual or institutional level—must also ensure that people are supported to adapt with dignity and agency.
From Insights to Action
A central objective of the workshop was to identify pathways for making the Must-Knows more actionable. This means identifying who needs to engage with the insights and how they can be reached and motivated to act.
Who Needs to Act?
- Institutional actors with capacity to shape rules, systems, and incentives.
- Key individuals—two or three per context—who can champion change within their networks or organisations.
- Alliances and networks that can amplify messaging and coordinate systemic responses.
How Can They Be Reached?
- Leveraging existing partnerships, such as the NDC Partnership, particularly since key documents and processes are being revised.
- Train-the-trainer approaches to build knowledge and capacity at scale.
- Grassroots campaigns that translate complex concepts into narratives that resonate with local realities and priorities.
Looking Ahead
The workshop reaffirmed that building resilience requires a multidimensional approach—one that combines scientific rigour with powerful communication, systems thinking with community-level action, and long-term vision with immediate practicality.
By making the Resilience Science Must-Knows more accessible and actionable, we can begin to align finance more effectively with the needs of a world facing compounding risks. Through strategic partnerships, inclusive processes, and a shared commitment to change, we can ensure that resilience is not only a concept—but a lived reality for all.
The full Resilience Science Must-Knows report will be released later in 2025.