Implementing the ICRM
Before Starting
Implementing the ICRM approach in the agricultural sector requires a general understanding about its potential to make the sector and related value chains more resilient to disaster risk and climate change impacts.
Therefore, it is important to first study this document and identify entry points that suit your particular need. However, attention should be given to the guiding questions and the associated tools. The tools are a list of references to different databases, websites and reports which would require expert knowledge and, in some cases, technical skills to understand the relevant information.
The ICRM process calls for a mix of stakeholder expertise covering a broad spectrum of private- and public-sector actors, including insurers, reinsurers, actors of the agricultural sector (farmers, suppliers, cooperatives, distribution channels), agricultural researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and policy-makers spanning all of the phases. Establishing a multi-stakeholder engagement through a working group is recommended to ensure cooperation, participation and interaction in all phases. Bringing diverse stakeholders together will help establish a communication channel, as well as address cross-cutting issues such as capacity development, coordination, monitoring, participation and gender perspective.
Workshop objective:
- To identify key stakeholders as well as facilitate a needs assessment with relevant government officials and all key stakeholders.
Workshop outcome:
- To create an initial understanding of the political landscape and agendas. An important process is the analysis of the existing capacity of key stakeholders, as this would be essential to identify which actors could contribute to the risk analysis (See Phase 1, below).
- Initial identification of risks/weather-related hazards affecting the different actors in the agricultural sector is ranked by geographical area or value chain and could form the basis for risk analysis in Phase 1.
- Tailor-made solutions such as literacy programmes or trainings to ensure that all stakeholders have sufficient awareness and understanding of insurance and weather-related risks.
It is fundamental to have representatives from women groups in the workshop, as women represent half or more of the agricultural labour force in developing countries (FAO, 2011). Furthermore, in sub-Saharan Africa women are often paid less than men for the same work (Le Quesne and others, 2017). Additional factors such as limited access to land, capital, assets and other productive resources further puts them at a disadvantage. This needs to be understood for appropriate policy intervention and programme targeting.