Disaster preparedness and response is exceptionally important in the context of financial inclusion. Countries with higher concentrations of poverty, weak infrastructure, and poor public services are more at risk.

Experience has shown that financial institutions serving at-risk populations are as vulnerable as their clients to these disasters and crises. While the initial humanitarian and emergency response to crisis is crucial, there is a growing recognition of the value of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies in preparing for and thus reducing economic losses associated with disasters.

What We Achieved

This program was designed to create awareness of the need for disaster preparedness in financial services markets and to build a general consensus among key stakeholders around effective disaster risk reduction practices. This was achieved through regional convenings of key stakeholders, interactive webinars, case studies highlighting DRR best practices, and the development of a DRR Risk Mapping Tool. Key learning and knowledge from the program are synthesized into a comprehensive training toolkit: Disaster Risk Reduction for Financial Service Providers: Promising Practices for Building Resiliency. The toolkit equips financial service providers, microfinance associations, and any relevant stakeholder to deliver in-depth training on disaster risk reduction for the financial services industry. In total, SEEP engaged 20 partner organizations to produce a total of 14 knowledge sharing products and events.  All of these resources are available in the Resilient Markets Resource Library.

This program was co-designed and funded by the Citi Foundation. The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. They invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation's "More than Philosophy" approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfill its mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com.