Implementation update: Insurance Development Forum sovereign and humanitarian solutions working group

The Insurance Development Forum (IDF) Sovereign and Humanitarian Solutions (SHS) Working Group is on a mission to reduce the protection gap in vulnerable and climate-exposed regions by implementing new risk financing instruments through the Tripartite Programme. 

This update follows the 15th Official Meeting of the IDF Steering Committee held on Wednesday 27th September 2023, and summarises the SHS Working Group’s ongoing activities under the key pillars of implementation, engagement and advocacy, with a focus on Tripartite implementations.

Implementation

The Tripartite Programme is a unique operational platform that fosters collaboration between public and private actors. It was initiated in 2019 through an agreement between the IDF, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and continues to be the linchpin of the SHS Working Group’s efforts. Our primary objective is to provide technical assistance and risk financing tools to at least 20 climate-vulnerable countries by 2025, aligning with the InsuResilience Global Partnership Vision 2025.

To date, more than 90 experts from 20 re/insurance companies and brokers, along with more than 70 UNDP representatives, are engaged in Tripartite work, which when in progress will bring benefits to 24 nations. 

There are now seven countries with Tripartite programmes in implementation; these projects include Peru, where an insurance programme to protect public schools against the impact of natural disasters has been developed; Colombia, where a parametric risk product has been designed to cover flooding, landslides, and earthquakes in the city of Medellín; Nigeria, where a sub-sovereign risk transfer scheme to provide flood risk cover for Lagos State; and Argentina, which focuses on better management of flood risks through a parametric product that protects municipal infrastructure and provides immediate assistance to affected populations.

In 2023, we continued to make progress across the remaining three countries with projects in place, these include:

• Mexico, where we successfully developed and piloted a sovereign parametric insurance solution that covered over 10,000 smallholder farmers against floods and droughts. The coverage was triggered twice during the pilot test, and more than 1,400 producers received a direct payment to make their livelihoods and communities more resilient against climate change. The UNDP developed comprehensive policy documents for the Ministry of Finance to submit this initiative to congress, and while budgets were not secured for 2023, the Ministry of Finance plans to explore other mechanisms to finance the 2024 agricultural season.
• In Ghana, we have made advancements on the development of a flood risk finance solution for the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area region (GAMA).The government inter-ministerial working group, with support from UNDP, have drafted key policy documents, such as a Flood Contingency Plan, and industry partners have made significant progress in technical development, including the design of an Excess Rainfall Cover product and a satellite-based Flood Footprint Cover.
• Our work in Uzbekistan has also made great progress. In August, the InsuResilience Solutions Fund (ISF) Grant Agreement was signed; we have also initiated meetings with government and local insurance partners to begin designing an agricultural insurance scheme and a disaster risk finance strategy. IDF partners have also been in collaboration with local insurers to create regulatory frameworks, with the aim to launch a first pilot in one region for up to three crops in January 2024.

Ivo Menzinger, Managing Director, Public Sector Business, Swiss Re, said: 

“The Tripartite Agreement is a public private partnership that provides an operational platform for industry collaboration with the international development community for impact at country level. This is unique and precious and we are looking to build on its progress to date.”

Tuga Alaskary, Technical Specialist Risk Financing, Insurance and Risk Finance Facility, UNDP, said: 

“Over the course of 2023, UNDP has been working closely with industry teams to advance the development of tailored risk finance solutions across Tripartite Agreement Program countries. At UNDP we are implementing a comprehensive programme with governments to embed this risk finance solution and more broadly insurance, into the governance and sustainable development. 

“Working hand-in-hand with governments, we have sought to seize opportunities, for example in Ethiopia a national Disaster Risk Financing process is under way and UNDP is working to integrate this into the broader governance framework and the Tripartite Agreement work with our industry partners will be a critical part of this.”

Engagement

In 2023, the SHS Working Group welcomed three new industry members: Global Parametrics, Generali, and Descartes. Their involvement enhances our capacity to implement country-specific projects.

Advocacy

As we move forward into 2024, we aim to consolidate Tripartite Programme gains, strengthen governments’ strategic and policy environments to support risk finance solutions, mobilise premium financing support, and position insurance at the heart of development. The upcoming COP28 provides a valuable platform to advocate for the critical role of insurance in development.

We would like to thank everyone involved in the SHS Working Group for your time, commitment and dedication as we strive to address the insurance needs of those most vulnerable with new solutions through capacity building, product development and knowledge sharing. Together, we will continue to work tirelessly to protect vulnerable populations and promote resilience in the face of growing climate challenges.