Climate Adaptation Tech Needs More Funding, Says AVPN CEO Naina Batra

Naina Subberwal Batra, Chief Executive Officer of AVPN – Asia’s largest network of social investors – has emphasised the need for increased funding towards climate adaptation technology. Speaking about the organisation’s focus areas, Batra highlighted that while climate mitigation receives significant attention, adaptation technologies remain underfunded despite their critical role in helping communities cope with the effects of climate change.

AVPN, headquartered in Singapore, is a network of over 700 member organisations including foundations, corporations, family offices, government-linked institutions, venture funds, and intermediaries. It has grown from a venture philanthropy focus to supporting the entire ecosystem of social investors, from catalytic philanthropists to impact investors and corporate CSR professionals. India is one of AVPN’s most active markets, with around 130 member organisations based in the country.

According to Batra, AVPN has aggregated more than US$200 million in philanthropic funding over the last four years through grant-making. The organisation does not directly implement programmes but works with local implementation partners, focusing on organisational strengthening to build institutional capacity rather than funding only specific projects.

One of AVPN’s notable initiatives is the AI Opportunity Fund, a US$35 million-plus programme supported by Google.org. It aims to build AI skills among workers in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Asia. To date, it has reached more than 500,000 workers, with 365,000 from India alone, and 20,000 small businesses across Asia-Pacific. Many beneficiaries include women, rural workers, and first-time technology users.

Batra stressed that climate adaptation technology is a focus area that requires more capital. While AVPN works across climate, gender, health, and increasingly AI, adaptation tech offers scalable solutions for communities facing rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and other climate impacts. She noted that many concessional capital providers are still prioritising mitigation, leaving a gap in funding for adaptation innovations.

AVPN’s role is to deploy capital in a coordinated and measurable manner. It establishes single-donor funds and pooled funds, supports pipeline development, builds capacity, and convenes stakeholders. Batra, who has led AVPN since 2013, serves on the boards of several philanthropic and impact-focused organisations, including the Blue Earth Foundation and the Menzies Foundation.

By advocating for more funding towards climate adaptation tech, Batra calls on philanthropists and impact investors to recognise the urgency of helping communities adapt to a changing climate. With Asia being highly vulnerable to climate risks, targeted investments in adaptation can build resilience and protect livelihoods.