As we welcome 2026, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the milestones achieved over the past year and the path ahead. Building on a strong foundation, the program continues to strengthen the resilience of farmers and MSMEs, primarily across Africa and Asia, by expanding access to climate risk insurance solutions. Through the development and testing of inclusive insurance products, the strengthening of strategic partnerships, and the promotion of digital insurance solutions, we are addressing critical protection gaps while bridging key knowledge needs through technical workshops

Over 1,250 leaders from Africa’s public and private financial sectors gathered in Casablanca on November 3–4 for the fifth edition of the Africa Financial Industry Summit (AFIS). Now firmly established as a key platform shaping the continent’s financial future, the 2025 summit focused on how African economies can mobilize domestic resources to drive inclusive and sustainable growth. This year’s discussions centered on reimagining Africa’s financial architecture and the strategic role of domestic institutional capital. Participants explored how pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurers

The World Bank Group participated in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), held from November 10–21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil. COP30 brought together global leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to accelerate climate action, mobilize finance, and support countries in building resilient, sustainable development pathways. The conference marks over 30 years since the Rio Summit, which established the UNFCCC, and a decade after the Paris Agreement, which set legally binding targets to limit global warming. At COP30, the World Bank Group highlighted its work on jobs, growth, climate resilience

On 10 September 2025, the SME Finance Forum hosted a new edition of its Virtual SME Marketplace, this time spotlighting Insurtech for Smallholder Farmers—a sector rapidly evolving through technology, data, and innovative partnerships. The session brought together leading insurtech and agtech companies working across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, all united by a shared ambition: making insurance more accessible, transparent, and impactful for smallholder farmers navigating rising climate risks. Setting the Stage: IFC’s Experience in Asia The session opened with insights on IFC’s experience

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