Climate Risk Insurance for livestock farmers in the Kyrgyz Republic

This factsheet provides an insight into how this initiative strengthens the capacity of local authorities and pasture communities to manage pastures effectively, protecting vulnerable households with livestock from climate-related shocks while bolstering resilience in the face of climate-related challenges. Low income and food-insecure households in the Kyrgyz Republic face a wide range of shocks, including climate variability, extreme weather conditions, conflicts, and socio-economic crises. Climate-induced disasters have increased 1.5 times over the past 12 years, adversely affecting agricultural activities and exacerbating food insecurity. Vulnerable communities, lacking access to effective risk management and social protection mechanisms are most likely to experience severe losses.

The World Food Programme (WFP) in the Kyrgyz Republic, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), has developed a Climate Risk Insurance benefiting livestock farmers in the Kyrgyz Republic, which aims to: 

• Prevent households from selling productive assets and stimulate faster recovery. Farmers can boost agricultural productivity by investing in seeds, fertilizers, and innovative technologies
• Strengthen the technical and financial capacity of local governments and district authorities and pasture committees to improve pasture management and protect SocialPassport households with livestock from climate-related shocks Climate Risk Insurance for livestock farmers in the Kyrgyz Republic
• Assist livestock farmers in obtaining financial resources to purchase fodder in the event of scarcity and/or high prices, or when grazing is not possible or meaningful due to extreme drought and extreme and extended winters
• Increase the financial sustainability of livestock farmers through cash payments and in-kind support, improving their food security and nutritional status
• Contribute to the prosperity of the livestock sector