Our Blog
Featured Blogs
Posted by
Tom Felix Joehnk , 21 June 2024
Around 20 typhoons occur near the Philippines every year and nearly half of them hit the country — killing scores and destroying schools, hospitals, and other public infrastructure. The search for the money to rebuild typically starts the day after the calamity. Some emergency funds flow; charitable donations, too. But overall, public assets lack financial protection against disasters, despite the Philippines being one of world’s most disaster-prone countries and among the champions of disaster... Keep reading
Posted by
Qhelile Ndlovu, 23 April 2024
A cityscape of Luanda, Angola
The southwestern African country of Angola is enigmatic, it boasts of a variety of diverse ecosystems, ranging from the arid Namib Desert in the south to the lush rainforests of the north. With its rich land and tropical climate in the Northern part of the country, it has massive agricultural potential for a range of crops, including high value chains like coffee, cotton and wine. Its long coastline could deliver double digit growth of the fisheries sector. However, Angola is exposed to climate... Keep reading
Posted by
Olivier Mahul, 22 April 2024
The global protection gap related to climate shocks and disasters keeps growing. According to the insurance industry , this protection gap worldwide is estimated at 67 percent in 2023: this means that only 33 percent of the direct economic costs of natural hazards, estimated at USD357 billion in 2023, were insured. This protection gap is even wider in emerging markets and developing economies, where it can exceed 90 percent. Climate shocks and extreme weather events not only reduce the welfare... Keep reading
Posted by
Radu Tatucu, 12 April 2024
Sitting down with farmers in Bicol early this year, we heard a clear message: "We suffer many losses after disasters; reliable agricultural insurance could be our financial safety net,” they say. In 2023, the region experienced devastating floods and landslides. A few years earlier, Super Typhoon Goni tore through Bicol region, destroying crops and livestock. Such events are commonplace in the Philippines with an average of 20 typhoons occurring annually, and 8 to 9 of these making landfall. 1... Keep reading
Posted by
Olivier Mahul, 05 April 2024
Africa is one of the most susceptible regions to the impacts of climate change, and the costs of climate change can be significant. Sub-Saharan Africa is already experiencing erratic weather patterns and is projected to face more extreme climate events. The agricultural sector, which contributed 17 percent to GDP in 2022, and employs more than 50 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's workforce is particularly vulnerable. In turn, the sector affects economic growth. The impact of a drought on medium-... Keep reading
Posted by
Sumati Rajput, 14 March 2024
“ PRB, Indonesia, Tangguh !” This was the spirit of the week of March 4-7, 2024, when 37 government officials from five-line ministries and nine units within Ministry of Finance (MoF) convened at the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). “PRB (Pembiayaan Risiko Bencana), Indonesia, Tangguh”, which translates to “disaster risk finance (DRF) for a resilient Indonesia” in Bahasa Indonesia, was the topic of discussion. What is DRF? DRF is an approach for financial planning, where countries can... Keep reading
Posted by
Richard Sutherland, 29 February 2024
Disasters can wreak havoc on communities and economies. Munich Re reports that natural disasters in the first half of 2023 resulted in enormous economic losses of $110 billion, a third of which was caused by an earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. Estimated economic losses have increased from $52 billion annually in the 1980s to a staggering $228 billion a year over the first three years of the 2020s . As the frequency and intensity of such events continue to rise, governments need to proactively... Keep reading