As mainland Southeast Asia braces for a potential return of El Niño in 2026–27, SEADRIF and the FAO have rolled out an index-triggered drought insurance pilot in Laos.
The Australian regulator highlights emerging conduct, accountability and governance challenges as insurers expand AI use and distribution through digital platforms.
The payout marks Nepal’s first use of a parametric drought insurance policy, stakeholders said, with funds supporting food aid and farming tools in Bajura district.
The new policy triggers financial relief when a set number of people are affected by extreme weather, and follows the rollout of a similar impact-based policy in Lao PDR in 2025.
Floods and earthquakes dominated Asia’s catastrophe losses in 2025, underscoring challenges linked to urbanisation, exposure growth and risk assessment, according to Swiss Re.
