The Global Shield Solutions Platform (GSSP) has partnered with the Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF) to strengthen disaster risk finance and insurance capabilities across Southeast Asia, the fund announced on July 2.
A multi-donor grant facility, the GSSP helps vulnerable countries prepare for climate disasters by giving out grants and expert advice to build fast-acting financial tools, like disaster insurance and emergency funds.
Backed by GSSP funding, SEADRIF will launch a programme focused on public insurer engagement, risk data analytics, knowledge-sharing, country-level workshops and targeted training across the region.
The initiative is designed to help SEADRIF member countries develop locally relevant disaster risk financing approaches by strengthening institutional and technical capacity, expanding access to practical knowledge and supporting the development of innovative financial protection mechanisms.
As part of the programme, SEADRIF will work with public insurers, government institutions and other stakeholders to improve understanding of climate and disaster risks, develop country-specific use cases and build readiness for new risk financing and insurance solutions. It will also establish a SEADRIF Fellowship and training programme to develop local expertise and foster a regional community of practice focused on CDRFI.
The partnership comes as Southeast Asian countries seek stronger financial protection against increasingly frequent and severe climate-related disasters. GSSP said the initiative will help governments improve climate risk assessments, strengthen disaster preparedness and advance climate adaptation strategies.
Benedikt Signer, CEO of SEADRIF Insurance Company, said ASEAN countries were increasingly prioritising climate and disaster risk finance, but scaling financial protection required continued investment in analytics, technical capabilities and market infrastructure.
The funding builds on SEADRIF’s broader efforts to expand regional disaster risk financing collaboration. In March, the insurer signed a memorandum of intent with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) to strengthen disaster impact reporting and risk financing solutions across Southeast Asia.
