Does agricultural insurance improve smallholder farmers’ wellbeing? Evidence from five impact evaluations

Smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries face growing risks from climate change. More frequent and severe droughts, floods and pest outbreaks threaten their livelihoods and food security. Agricultural insurance can help farmers manage these risks by protecting them financially and helping them recover from shocks. A growing body of research looks at its role in raising productivity and building climate resilience. Far less is known about its effects on wider wellbeing, such as food security, income stability and gender equity.

This Evidence Dialogues webinar presents findings from a synthesis of five impact evaluations conducted under 3ie’s Agricultural Insurance Evidence Program, funded by the Gates Foundation. The evaluations span Kenya, India and Senegal. They test a range of approaches, from extension videos and discount coupons to insurance based on farmers’ smartphone photos or on satellite data, weather index insurance and models that bundle insurance with credit.

After a presentation of the cross-cutting findings, members of the evaluation teams will reflect on what they learned and share their priorities for the future of agricultural insurance and climate resilience programming. The session is designed for policymakers, funders, insurers, lenders and researchers working on agricultural risk and climate resilience.