How can accurate rainfall data help farmers insure their land?

Insurance companies require historical rainfall data to analyze drought probabilities and calculate index insurance prices. Many farmers worldwide do not have access to this information and have difficulties getting adequate insurance coverage. Researchers at Columbia’s International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) are harnessing data sets to support some of the largest index insurance projects across the Horn of Africa, protecting hundreds of thousands of farmers.

The Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) initiative, led by IRI, brings climate knowledge into national decision making by improving access to climate information. ENACTS integrates satellite and rain gauge data sets to get comprehensive rainfall data from the last few decades. Access to information products is enhanced by making the improved data available online through ENACTS “Maprooms.”

The ENACTS initiative has truly been transformative—mobilizing the launch and scaling of some of the most successful index insurance projects across Africa.

ENACTS’ farmer-level projects continue to expand to new countries, bringing a new kind of integrated information and climate risk protection process. Learn more.