Amman, Jordan, 15 September 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan, through its Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF), has convened a two-day participatory workshop in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Risk Management Fund to advance the development of Jordan’s National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy.

The workshop, held on 15 and 16 September, brings together representatives from government, the private sector and development partners to strengthen a national framework for managing the financial impacts of disasters and climate-related shocks in a coordinated and sustainable manner.

The strategy aims to help Jordan move from primarily financing response after shocks occur towards a more proactive approach that puts appropriate financial arrangements in place before disasters happen. The workshop is reviewing the current draft, identifying priority interventions, financing mechanisms and institutional arrangements, and building consensus around the steps needed for implementation.

Speaking on behalf of Dr Saeb Al-Kharisat, Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Al Talafeeh highlighted the increasing frequency and severity of climate risks affecting Jordan’s agriculture sector, including prolonged drought, flash floods, frost and extreme heat. These risks have direct consequences for farming households, rural communities and small-scale farmers who are particularly exposed to climate-related shocks.

Agriculture and its wider economic linkages influence an estimated 23.5 per cent of Jordan’s overall economic activity. The Minister noted that advancing the National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy would build on existing national efforts, including the Agricultural Risk Management Fund, established in 2009, and the 2025 Agricultural Risk Mitigation Fund Law. It would also help connect these mechanisms within a more coherent national framework aligned with Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision, the National Plan for Sustainable Agriculture and the National Food Security Strategy.

“Jordan’s National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy represents an important shift from financing response after shocks occur towards planning ahead for them and managing their financial impacts more effectively,” said Majida Alassaf, Deput UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan.

“A layered approach to risk financing can bring together different instruments, from resources retained within the public budget and pre-arranged emergency financing to insurance and reinsurance. The objective is to ensure that appropriate financing is available when it is most needed, while reducing the financial impact of shocks on people, farmers, small businesses and public finances.”

Alassaf added that expanding access to inclusive insurance, strengthening agricultural insurance and exploring innovative approaches such as index-based insurance can contribute to stronger financial protection. “This workshop reflects the importance of a participatory approach that strengthens national ownership and brings institutions and partners together around clear priorities for implementation,” she said.

UNDP is supporting the process through its Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF), part of UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub. The Facility works with governments and partners to integrate insurance and risk finance into public policy and national development frameworks, strengthen institutional capacity, and develop financial solutions that help countries manage the growing financial impacts of risk.

A central focus of IRFF is helping countries move from reactive financing after disasters towards more proactive and risk-informed financial planning. This includes supporting governments to assess risks, strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks, identify appropriate financing instruments, and use data and analysis to inform decision-making.

Globally, IRFF also supports the development of more inclusive insurance markets and a new generation of insurance products and services designed to reach people, households and businesses that remain underserved by traditional insurance markets. This work contributes to protecting livelihoods, strengthening economic resilience and reducing the risk that shocks reverse development gains.

The outcomes of the two-day workshop, including areas of agreement and a proposed roadmap, are expected to inform the continued development of Jordan’s National Disaster Risk Financing Strategy and help shape the next steps towards its implementation.

About UNDP
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Learn more at undp.org/jordan or follow @UNDPJordan.

About the Insurance and Risk Finance Facility
The Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF) is UNDP’s flagship initiative dedicated to insurance and risk finance and is part of UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub. The Facility supports countries and partners with policy advice, tools, methodologies, technical expertise and partnerships to strengthen financial resilience.
IRFF works to integrate insurance and risk finance into development planning, strengthen inclusive insurance markets and support the development of financial solutions that protect people, livelihoods, businesses and public finances from the impacts of shocks and crises.

Learn more at www.irff.undp.org.