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Pastoralism is the primary livelihood in the drylands of the Horn of Africa (HoA), accounting for over one-third of agricultural GDP in most countries and around 80 percent in Djibouti and Somalia. It provides the major source of nutrient-rich animal-sourced foods for East Africa’s rapidly growing population. The HoA has a long history of fragility, catastrophic droughts, and conflicts. Climate change is now exacerbating an already difficult situation, leading to increased tension over natural...
Knowledge, especially practical, hands-on know-how, is essential for countries to tackle development challenges and to build resilience to disasters and shocks. One of the most effective ways to share this “how-to” knowledge is through peer-to-peer exchanges among policy makers and practitioners. The challenge: Closing the disaster insurance gap When natural disasters strike, many people and businesses in emerging economies lack insurance protection. This leaves governments to bear most of the...
Indonesia, with over 17,000 islands spanning 1,500 kilometers, has a history of earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, and landslides. Located on the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” the country has 76 active volcanoes, recording over 3,000 natural disasters annually. From 2014 to 2023, the Government of Indonesia’s disaster risk management (DRM) spending ranged from approximately US$ 489 million in 2014 to US$ 6.9 billion in 2021. While pre-disaster spending has increased in recent years...
The victims of flood navigating the road to Preedi in October 2011. | © Shutterstock.com In 2011, Thailand’s worst floods in over 50 years caused US$46.5 billion in damages, worth 12.6 percent of gross domestic product. Thailand is no stranger to the impacts of climate change. The country faces increasing threats from heavy rainfall, sea level rise, floods, and droughts. Historically, floods and storms have been the most frequent natural hazards, affecting up to 1 million people almost every...
For Saoirse Jones, the insurance industry offers more than financial tools—it offers a way to protect lives, communities, and entire societies. That sense of purpose is what has guided her career and continues to drive her work today. As Global Head of Public Sector Solutions at Zurich Resilience Solutions and Co-Chair of the Insurance Development Forum (IDF)’s Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Task Force, Saoirse brings over two decades of experience to bridging the gap between risk expertise and...
The growing toll of global disaster and climate losses seems inescapable. The year 2024 was another record-breaking year, with global disaster losses estimated at over $350 billion. In an increasingly risky world, developing country governments must juggle the difficult tradeoff of protecting their people and economies from the shocks of today, while trying to invest for the future and better prepare for the crises of tomorrow. Development brings new risk simply by adding more assets to exposure...
Effective partnerships are like “the prisoner’s dilemma” where the best outcome – or Nash Equilibrium as we call it – is reached when all parties cooperate. Similarly, relying on uncertain, slow post-disaster assistance is a risky gamble, much like the suboptimal outcome in the 'Prisoner's Dilemma'. Effective protection requires foresight and cooperation, where the best outcome – or Nash Equilibrium – is reached when all parties cooperate. While selfish moves might seem appealing in the short...