In his keynote address, Shigeki Komatsubara, UNDP Resident Representative in Tanzania, emphasized the transformative potential of insurance in enabling development:
“At UNDP, we see insurance as a key enabler of development. Whether it’s protecting smallholder farmers from climate shocks, building financial safety nets for vulnerable households, or catalyzing private sector investments—insurance must play a bigger role in Tanzania’s socio-economic transformation.”

He further outlined three urgent priorities for the sector:
•    Industry-led self-regulation to build accountability and consumer trust;
•    Expanding insurance coverage in a rapidly growing, middle-income economy where financial protection is increasingly in demand;
•    Creating an enabling policy environment that encourages innovation, coordination, and regulatory reforms to drive scale.

As part of its efforts through the Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF) project, UNDP reaffirmed its support in:

•    Strengthening coordination across the insurance ecosystem
•    Supporting inclusive and innovative insurance products
•    And Building systems and partnerships to unlock investment and safeguard livelihoods

During a high-level panel on Climate and Disaster Risk Financing, the IRFF National Coordinator, Josephine Laswai, from UNDP highlighted the organization’s work in aligning policies, enhancing technical capacity, and piloting community-centered insurance solutions. She stressed the role of insurance in transferring risk, protecting public assets, supporting vulnerable populations, and facilitating access to international climate finance.