This November, the Singapore International Reinsurance Conference ( SIRC ) returns for its 21st edition at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, bringing together over 3,000 global leaders from the insurance and reinsurance sectors. Under the theme “Staying Ahead, Future Ready,” this year’s conference will focus on how the industry is navigating a fast-evolving risk environment, from increasing climate volatility and shifting macroeconomic conditions to the transformative impact of data analytics and artificial intelligence. Organized by the Singapore Reinsurers' Association (SRA), SIRC

What does it take to build insurance that actually works for women? For APA Insurance Kenya, the journey began with a realization: that women were underserved by the traditional insurance market — and that changing this could benefit not only their business, but society at large. With support from IFC and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), APA embarked on a bold transformation to design products that reflect women’s needs, challenges, and aspirations across every stage of life. The result was APA SHEild, a comprehensive women’s insurance program built on data, empathy, and

A Message from Fatou Assah, Global Head, Advisory Services, Financial Institutions Group (FIG) As we celebrated Women’s History Month in March, Fatou Assah reflects on GIIF’s gender achievements and continued commitment to inclusion in insurance: “As we commemorated Women’s History Month in March, we reaffirmed our focus on closing gender gaps and scaling impact where it matters most. GIIF continues to contribute to IFC’s gender flagging commitments to promote gender-smart solutions and the integration of inclusive insurance across the industry. In 2023, the global insurance sector experienced

Last December 2024, IFC hosted its inaugural Agri-Finance meeting in Casablanca, bringing together IFC FIG Africa Clients and Partners for a day and a half of learning, networking, and knowledge exchange. The event centered on the critical role AgTech companies play in advancing food security and agricultural productivity across Africa. Discussions focused on how innovative technologies, including data and AI, can enhance financial inclusion for farmers, address food security challenges, and drive sustainable agricultural practices. John Kamara , founder of Afya Rekod shared valuable insights

At the Africa Financial Summit 2024 in Casablanca, IFC and pan-African reinsurer ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company) signed a partnership agreement to launch digital insurance solutions for smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs. Sergio Pimenta, IFC Vice President for Africa, signed the agreement on behalf of IFC, reinforcing the commitment to financial inclusion and climate resilience across the continent. IFC thanked Ms. Hope Murera, ZEP-RE MD & CEO, and the entire ZEP-RE team for their unwavering support in advancing financial protection for Africa’s farmers and agri-sector businesses. Read the

On December 2, 2024, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and a Consortium of Insurers—comprising Atlantique Assurances, SanlamAllianz, and AXA—signed a groundbreaking cooperation agreement under the IFC’s Global Inclusive Insurance Program (GIIF), co-financed by the BMZ. This partnership aims to enhance the resilience of Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural sector by providing tailored and accessible insurance solutions to smallholder farmers and SMEs, addressing risks from climate-induced challenges such as droughts, floods, and erratic weather. With a target to

A Year of Growth, Impact, and Ambition for 2025 As we step into 2025, it’s a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come and set our sights on the road ahead. The past year was filled with achievements, challenges, and invaluable lessons—each one shaping the foundation for an even stronger future. By the close of 2024, our collective efforts had led to nearly 15 million Climate Insurance policies issued, reaching an estimated 75 million beneficiaries worldwide. These numbers aren’t just statistics—they represent smallholder farmers securing their livelihoods, families rebuilding after climate

The Global Index Insurance Facility (GIIF) is excited to announce the launch of our latest eLearning modules: Technical Design and Premium Calculations for Crop Climate Insurances, designed to take your understanding of climate insurance to the next level. Building on our foundational Introduction to Index Insurance course, these new modules focus on the intricate details of calculating premiums for climate insurance contracts. Available on the OLC platform in both English and French, this advanced series offers a valuable opportunity for continued learning and skill enhancement. What’s New in

The article recently published by the Africa Reinsurance Corporation in their latest magazine edition underscores the pivotal role of the public sector in fostering the development and expansion of agricultural insurance, particularly in developing countries. It highlights the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, such as pest infestations, adverse weather conditions, and climate disasters, and how these risks threaten the sustainable development of agriculture. Despite the growth of agricultural insurance, particularly index-based policies, coverage remains limited and heavily skewed

In her recent travels across Latin America, Europe, and Africa, Florence Boupda Ngueda, Global Sector Manager of IFC's Financial Institutions Group, highlighted the growing impact of IFC’s efforts in expanding insurance markets. From São Paulo and Mexico City to Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania, IFC's investments are bolstering insurance sectors with a focus on resilience against climate risks. Ngueda underscored the urgency of bridging insurance gaps, noting IFC's milestone of issuing over 14 million policies globally through innovative index insurance programs, with GIIF playing a pivotal role