Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Strategy

Given that the availability of climate and disaster risk financing and insurance instruments is slowly growing, it is crucial to ensure that those instruments are gender equitable and socially inclusive to include the most vulnerable and marginalized such as women, people with disabilities, the low-income population, the youth, workers in the informal economy and individuals enrolled in formal social protection schemes (like welfare recipients). Using a gender-lens to customize product design, determine distribution channels and eligibility criteria is a step towards providing equal opportunities, financial accessibility, and inclusion to all societal groups.

To achieve this purpose, Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme (PICAP) adopts an inclusive market development approach to ensure that women and the most vulnerable are fully represented in climate disaster risk financing products (e.g., parametric insurance). This report describes PICAP’s approach towards achieving and mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in all of its activities and programming. The document reveals specific GESI considerations, mechanisms, and guidelines integrated within all project development efforts and delivery methods.