The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Association of Ethiopian Insurers have launched two new initiatives focusing on agricultural insurance. The initiatives were announced at a CEO Forum convened by the Ministry of Agriculture with support from UNDP and the Association of Ethiopian Insurers. A one-year Knowledge to Action Accelerator Programme will train participants in product design, risk modelling, pricing, data management, and claims calculation. The programme will focus on Area Yield Index Insurance and Weather Index Insurance, with pilot prototypes planned in parts of Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray Regioanl States. In parallel, the Association of Ethiopian Insurers will establish a multipurpose risk-sharing platform to improve data access, market coordination, and reinsurance solutions, supporting product innovation and sector growth. An Actuarial Capacity Fund will run for two years to build local expertise through scholarships and talent development, backed by an initial 50,000 dollars contribution from BMZ and UNDP under the UNDP-Milliman Global Actuarial Initiative. Agriculture accounts for about 32pc of Ethiopia’s GDP, while insurance penetration remains below 0.4pc, underscoring the sector’s growth potential. The initiatives fall under a partnership launched in November 2025 between the Ministry of Agriculture, the Association of Ethiopian Insurers, and UNDP, with additional backing from the Gates Foundation and the German government. The forum brought together industry leaders to align on agricultural insurance as a tool for resilience, food security, and financial inclusion.

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