The 2026 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund come at a critical moment for the global economy. Held from April 13–18 in Washington, D.C., this year’s discussions are framed around a central theme: “Building Prosperity Through Policy.” But beyond the title, the message is clear, this is no longer just about policy design. It is about delivery at scale. Across sessions, one priority stands out: creating jobs. As emphasized by Ajay Banga, the world is facing a defining challenge. Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people in developing countries will

Launch of the Capacity Building Program In this interview, the Secretary General of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO) reflects on the launch of the GIIF capacity-building program and its role in strengthening agricultural and climate insurance across Africa. He shares insights on key challenges, early results from the first cohort, and the path toward scaling impactful, inclusive insurance solutions. GIIF: Congratulations on the launch of the “Capacity Building and Development for Agricultural and Climate Insurance” training series. To begin, could you share what inspired this

In 2019, when GIIF brought together innovators, insurers, policymakers, and investors in Mumbai for its Agriculture Insurtech Innovation Challenge, the objective was to create space for emerging technologies to be tested, discussed, and assessed at the intersection of agriculture, insurance, and resilience. At the time, many of the innovators participating in the challenge shared a common ambition: using data, digital platforms, and new forms of connectivity to address long-standing constraints faced by smallholder farmers—limited access to finance, exposure to climate risk, and fragmented

Over the past decade, agricultural insurance has evolved from an experimental concept in low-income markets to a tool for strengthening farmer resilience and food security. Early pilots, advisory support, and collaboration across public and private actors paved the way for insurtech companies to operate at scale. Pula’s journey illustrates how innovation, technical assistance, and long-term partnerships can transform pilots into integrated systems supporting millions of smallholder farmers. Laying the Foundations: Building the Market In Kenya, Kilimo Salama, an index-based microinsurance

As part of the KNOWvember 2025 discussion series, the W orld Bank Group (WBG) Academy Impact Program “Disaster Risk Insurance” held a webinar session titled “Insuring Against Disaster Risk” last November 25th. The webinar showcased how knowledge, financing, and public-private collaboration can accelerate real-world development impact, with lessons shared from the training held in Istanbul in April 2025. Opened by Véronique Kabongo, Head of the World Bank Group Academy and Client Capacity, the session highlighted the Academy’s evolving role as a one-stop shop for client capacity building across

In June, the Insurance team within the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) conducted a business development mission to Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. The mission was jointly held with Investment and Advisory colleagues, including both global and local teams, such as Florence Boupda Ngueda––FIG Global Sector Manager for Insurance, Housing and DARP; Astou Ryanna Dem––Investment Analyst; James Smouse–– Principal Investment Officer, Head of Insurance; and Shadreck Mapfumo––Senior Insurance Specialist. The mission highlighted some exciting opportunities to support the growth of the insurance markets in

As droughts intensify and grazing land becomes scarcer, tensions between farmers and pastoralists in Northern Nigeria have continued to rise. But a new approach to insurance could help ease these pressures and offer a path toward more peaceful, climate-resilient communities. On July 24, 2025, stakeholders from across the public and private sectors gathered in Abuja, Nigeria for the launch of two innovative insurance products designed to respond to the unique challenges faced by farmers and herders. The event, hosted by Africa Re, marked a key milestone in the Nigeria Inclusive Insurance

Over the coming months, the Global Inclusive Insurance Facility (GIIF) will launch a new series of briefing notes designed to offer fresh insights into its work around the world. These notes will come in two forms: Country Profiles , spotlighting where GIIF has been actively expanding access to agricultural index insurance, and Thematic or Regional Briefings , focusing on broader themes like capacity building, stakeholder collaboration, and GIIF’s involvement in sector-wide initiatives. Drawing on farmer testimonials, highlights from key events, technical assistance summaries, and client

As part of its commitment to inclusive insurance, the Global Index Insurance Facility (GIIF) spoke with Evelyne FASSINOU, Member of the Executive Committee of FANAF, about the recently launched joint FANAF–IFC study. We sincerely thank her for collaborating with GIIF and sharing the valuable insights that made this piece possible. 1. Evelyne, congratulations on the recent launch of the joint FANAF–IFC study. To start, could you tell us what inspired this collaboration? Evelyne FASSINOU: When Rosalie Logon and I were elected to the Executive Committee of FANAF in February 2020, we quickly felt

Spotlight on Public-Private Collaboration: Swiss Re on Advancing Disaster Risk Finance at the DRF Academy – Executive Education Program As countries continue to face rising climate and disaster risks, the role of public-private partnerships in shaping effective financial resilience strategies has never been more critical. During the recent Disaster Risk Finance (DRF) Academy – Executive Education program, participants from around the world gathered to explore actionable approaches for scaling up disaster and climate risk finance, with a strong focus on collaboration, sustainability, and