world bank

The World Bank supported catastrophe bond that is in the market to secure risk transfer and disaster insurance protection for the Philippines has not upsized, with the IBRD CAR 123-124 transaction still aiming for $225 million.

A catastrophe bond (IBRD CAR 123-124) has been launched to the market seeking to secure risk transfer and disaster insurance protection for the Philippines, with the World Bank supporting the country in securing a capital markets backed source of capacity for catastrophe loss events.

The World Bank has delivered the first of a new combined catastrophe and pandemic contingent risk financing solution to the Maldives, leveraging existing structures to create something responsive and that works similar to insurance for the archipelagic nation.

In supporting the Pacific Island nations on their road to resilience, the World Bank aims to expand the availability of parametric disaster insurance protection, partly through the use of private capital, while expanding the range of parametric insurance products available in the region as well.

The World Bank, alongside German and United Kingdom governments, have announced a new initiative to help vulnerable countries manage climate change and natural disaster related shocks, with the launch of the US $145 million Global Risk Financing Facility (GRiF).

The Philippines is to benefit from a payout of almost $500 million to assist with its recovery from recent typhoon Mangkhut, as the countries catastrophe contingent line of credit provided by the World Bank has been triggered.

A project is now underway that may see the country of Romania as the next in line to benefit from a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO) instrument from the World Bank, as the government of the country seeks to enhance its disaster risk financing support.

The African nation of Kenya is the next country in line to benefit from a Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO) from the World Bank, with a project underway to deliver a $200 million disaster risk financing arrangement including a catastrophe contingent line of credit, alongside development financing.

The establishment of the World Bank’s capital-at-risk notes program almost four years ago set the foundation for continued innovation and expansion, as the organisation looks to “push the boundaries” of insurance-linked securities (ILS) market risks, according to Michael Bennett, Head of Derivatives & Structured Finance, World Bank Treasury.

The Dominican Republic has secured the first catastrophe contingent line of credit in the Caribbean, with a $150 million Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO) supported by the World Bank, that provides immediate financing in the event of natural disasters or public health emergencies.