The Synergy Program ***“Adaptation to Climate Change through Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Agriculture, striving for Mitigation* *Co-Benefits”*** is an initiative by the Belgian Provincial Government of West Flanders, higher education institutions (HEIs) HOWEST University of Applied Sciences and VIVES University College, and various Philippine partner organizations to mainstream climate change adaptation initiatives in sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship in the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Sorsogon. The program seeks to be a model for other regions in the country.

State of Play of Risk Transfer Mechanisms for Small-scale Farmers and Entrepreneurs

Climate change adaptation and risk mitigation require multi-perspective risk management strategies to alleviate the effects of extreme weather events and facilitate the adaptation to increasingly unpredictable weather and climate conditions. In the context of climate change, risk transfer mechanisms (RTMs) can provide the necessary safety nets from climate change risks not only to vulnerable communities but also to the development initiatives of public and private sectors. This research presents a narrative on the state of play of RTMs, with a focus on weather index-based insurance (WII) in the Philippines, which was piloted in 2011.

Authors: Jose Lapira and Ana Marie Malvez
Contributing authors: Danica Marie Supnet, Elainne Lopez, and Isabella Ann Mendoza, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities
Technical review: Dr. Felino Lansigan, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños
Published by: The West Flanders Synergy Program in the Philippines – Climate Change Cluster and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (2020)