Story by Theophilus Chuma
Humanitarian and development partners are seeking to expand Climate Risk Insurance for the country as a sustainable tool to build resilience and counter the impact of climate change.
This comes in the wake of significant strides achieved under an insurance payout to government meant to assist vulnerable families after the El Nino-induced drought.
The insurance payout has been vital in supporting extensive drought response efforts which have cushioned over one million people across the country.
“We are very grateful to the support programmes implemented by government through ARC. We have been cushioned tremendously,” said a beneficiary.
“The drought was indeed devastating but we are happy that the government stood to the challenge and cushioned many of us from the resulting impact,” said another.
The payouts, a result of drought insurance policies facilitated by government and the World Food Programme (WFP) have acted as a buffer against hunger, with the United Nations aid agency hinting on plans to expand the insurance premium bracket.
“Through the African Risk Capacity Climate Insurance we were able to have a payout of 6 million United States Dollars and we were able to assist people most affected by drought. That was a pilot for Zimbabwe and we would like to expand on that were we are inviting the government and other development partners. I think that is the future were we are looking at anticipatory action to fight climate change,” noted Ms Barbra Clemence- World Food Programme – Country Director.
Government has moved to revamp its disaster risk financing systems through prioritising climate risk insurance to circumvent the effects of natural disasters such as floods and droughts due to climate change.
