Scaling up risk transfer mechanisms for climate vulnerable agriculture-based communities in Mindanao, Philippines

The Philippines is one of the most natural disaster-prone countries in the Asia-Pacific. Climate change projections indicate an increase in vulnerability, particularly in terms of unpredictable rainfall patterns.This puts the livelihood of farmers and food security in the Philippines at risk, especially on the island of Mindanao, also known as the “food basket” of the country.

In an effort to address these climate risks, the government-owned Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), in collaboration with UNDP, started the project “Scaling Up Risk Transfer Mechanisms for Climate Vulnerable Agriculture-Based Communities in Mindanao” in 2014. The goal of the project was to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable farming communities by enhancing the uptake of pilot-tested climate risk insurance and increasing local capacities to improve agricultural productivity and disaster risk reduction.

To increase the uptake of insurance, the project improved the payout mechanism, customized insurance products to local needs, and provided the farmers with financial support. To improve local capacities and increase agricultural productivity, the project set up a participatory training and learning program for farmers and other key stakeholders, where all were encouraged to share their experiences on how to enhance productivity in agriculture and reduce disaster risks.

The project constitutes a good practice because it is based on comprehensive technical analyses and effective in terms of its intended objective. Furthermore, the project brings about sustainable development benefits for the farmers.