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19 October 2023
Last month, we were privileged to participate in the Symposium for Index and Disaster Risk Financing for Francophone Africa in Dakar . This crucial convening for the region was fueled by the presence of over 100 delegates. These representatives gathered with a common purpose - to exchange innovative ideas and insights on resilience and collaborative efforts . It was a space where experiences, challenges, and solutions were shared, sowing seeds for a future where disaster risk financing is... Keep reading
06 September 2023
Last June, we had the opportunity to attend a workshop in London, UK, to learn how the De-risking, Inclusion and Value Enhancement of Pastoral Economies in the Horn of Africa (DRIVE) project has mobilized private sector capital through insurance markets to protect over one million pastoralists against drought. All by its first birthday! The project is supported by World Bank's International Development Association (IDA), alongside some matching grants from the Global Shield Financing Facility (... Keep reading
12 July 2023
Global studies have shown that disasters – in general – often affect women harder than men. At a recent webinar on “Women in Risk Finance," I had the privilege of listening to accomplished women leaders share their perspectives and experiences on financial resilience in the face of natural disasters and how gender plays a critical role in a country’s climate and disaster risk finance (DRF) plans. Even after years of significant economic and social progress, women continue to face barriers in... Keep reading
11 May 2023
In just four days in February, 200 avalanches hit the mountain regions of Tajikistan, sweeping away houses, rendering critical roads impassable, and killing 19 people. These kinds of disasters are nothing new to Central Asia. Over the past two decades, the region lost over $1.5 billion to natural disasters, affecting over 2.5 million people . A major flood—say, one with a one percent probability of occurring annually—could cause devastating losses : from $220 million in the Kyrgyz Republic to $... Keep reading
19 April 2023
Niger is a Sahelian, landlocked and low-income country of approximately 25 million inhabitants with an estimated GDP per capita being among the lowest in the world (US$ 591 in 2021). The country is exposed to multiple risks of fragility, conflict and violence which coupled with extreme weather conditions and natural disasters result in increased food insecurity and other challenges. Successive shocks, most recently the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 flooding disaster only heighten the fragility... Keep reading
18 April 2023
Written by Mulder Mkutumula (Scalable Coordinator, Government of Malawi), Evie Calcutt (Financial Sector Specialist, World Bank), Chipo Msowoya (Senior Social Protection Specialist, World Bank), Alejandra Campero Peredo (Risk Finance Consultant, World Bank) With an economy that relies heavily on rain-fed agriculture, Malawi is increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks . In recent history, Malawi has seen increases in the frequency and severity of droughts, which cause the poorest and most... Keep reading
21 March 2023
Discounts, whether a percentage off, a buy-one-get-one-free deal, or an online coupon code, are a great way for people to pay less for what they want, and stretch their budgets. Governments, too, want to make the most of their money, especially for unexpected events such as disasters which are costly and the full amount must be paid. The 21st century has seen an evolution in the way we manage disaster risk and how governments are paying the disaster bill. We know that disasters hinder... Keep reading