When more than 50 government officials and practitioners gathered in Istanbul in April 2025, the objective was clear: move beyond theory and equip countries with the practical tools needed to strengthen disaster risk insurance systems. 

Convened under the World Bank Group Academy’s Disaster Risk Insurance Impact Program and delivered in partnership with the Insurance Development Forum, the 2025 Istanbul event focused on one critical question: how to design and implement effective public-private insurance solutions to close the disaster protection gap.

But Istanbul was never meant to be a standalone moment. 

As highlighted in Learning to Impact: How the World Bank Group Academy Drives Scalable Solutions, the Academy’s model is built on a different premise: that impact comes not from one-off trainings, but from sustained engagement that helps countries apply, test, and refine solutions over time.

The recent Learning Week in London reflects this continued journey. Held over four days (June 9–12, 2026), the Disaster Risk Insurance Impact Program 2026 brought together around 40 senior officials from 17 countries. Co-organized by the World Bank Group and the Insurance Development Forum, with support from the Global Shield Financing Facility, the program marked the continuation of a two-year journey focused not on theory, but on advancing real reforms and implementation.

Building on the foundations laid in Istanbul, the London convening created space for countries to reflect on progress and focus on what comes next. Discussions were grounded in practical, country-driven questions: what exactly needs to change, what steps are realistically achievable, who needs to be involved, including those who may enable or constrain progress, and what support is required along the way. A strong emphasis was placed on challenging assumptions, identifying realistic pathways forward, and translating ideas into concrete action.

This shift is critical.

In Istanbul, participants worked through technical frameworks, explored global case studies, and developed initial action plans. The event also highlighted the importance of collaboration between public and private sector actors in designing solutions that can help close the disaster protection gap. 

Last June, in London, the focus moved further along that trajectory: towards implementation, reflection, and iteration. Participants worked through detailed action plans, identified priorities, and defined next steps tailored to their national contexts, while engaging with (re)insurance industry representatives and other disaster risk finance stakeholders on issues such as data, regulatory frameworks, and innovative financing mechanisms to unlock greater risk capital from insurance and capital market solutions. 

This progression reflects a core principle of the Academy’s approach: learning does not end when a workshop concludes. Instead, it continues through application, monitoring, and ongoing exchange. This kind of continuity is essential in a field as complex as disaster risk insurance, where solutions must be adapted to country contexts, supported by institutional capacity, and refined through experience.

Public-private insurance partnerships represent one pathway for countries seeking to strengthen financial resilience against disasters, but their success depends on sustained effort, cross-sector collaboration, and the ability to learn from both successes and setbacks. The Disaster Risk Insurance Learning Week in London builds on this approach by bringing together governments, private sector actors, and disaster risk finance stakeholders to explore how knowledge can translate into practical implementation. 

By linking engagements across time, from Istanbul to London, the Academy helps create that continuity. It enables countries to build on earlier lessons, share emerging progress, and remain connected to a broader community of practitioners facing similar challenges.

This ongoing exchange is what allows knowledge to evolve into practical, scalable solutions. The result is not just stronger understanding, but a clearer path to implementation. As the Academy continues to support countries through this process, the emphasis remains consistent: turning knowledge into action, and action into impact.