The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the Kyrgyz Republic, with financial support from the Government of Switzerland, has successfully completed the first Weather Index-Based Insurance Pilot Project in the Kyrgyz Republic supporting 4500 families.
The results and lessons learned from the pilot project will be presented at a workshop in Bishkek on 29 November 2023, where experts will discuss the potential for the pilot’s expansion and institutionalization.
The project, aimed at strengthening the resilience of rural communities to extreme weather-related risks and shocks, was implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and other line ministries in three districts of mountainous and highly exposed to drought and extended winter Naryn province: Jumgal, Ak-Talaa, and Naryn.
During the pilot period, a pay-out was triggered in Ak-Talaa district where pastures were impacted by drought during the summer period. The total pay-out amounted to USD 7,706, which was strategically utilized to procure barley to bridge feeding gaps for the most vulnerable groups in the district. This decision aligned with the Contingency Plan crafted by local authorities initially developed with WFP support. Consequently, 792 families living below the poverty line received 26.3 metric tons of barley, enhancing their ability to sustain livestock during the winter.
The purpose of this insurance product was to assist local governments in supporting livestock farmers against extreme weather events. This encompassed measures such as feed stocking against low fodder availability in pastures and the high price of fodder during harsh winters and drought.
The first Weather Index-Based Insurance Pilot Project marks a significant step forward in building climate resilience within the Kyrgyz Republic. By leveraging international expertise and collaboration, WFP and its partners are actively working towards reducing vulnerability and exposure to shocks, strengthening the adaptive capacities of rural communities.
For more information about the project please contact: Almaz Tchoroev, WFP Bishkek, Communications | Tel: +996 312 660033, Mobile: +996 550 577 597, Email: almaz.tchoroev@wfp.org