Rice Value Chain Climate Cover in Cote d’Ivoire

Rice production stands as one of the most important food crops of Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural landscape, sustaining livelihoods across diverse regions of the country. Despite its significance, rice production is vulnerable to climate variability and market uncertainties. To strengthen the resilience of small-scale rice producers against these adversities, the InsuResilience Solutions Fund (ISF) is co-funding the development and implementation of a parametric insurance product along with ARC Ltd, the Fédération des Unions des Sociétés de Cooperatives des Producteurs de Riz de Côte d’Ivoire (FUSCOP), Sarmap, and Cabinet Africain de Solutions d’Assurances Inclusives (CASAI).

Côte d’Ivoire, nestled in West Africa, boasts a tropical climate distinguished by its consistent warmth and marked wet and dry seasons. Temperatures throughout the year remain relatively high, tempered slightly along the coast by oceanic influences. Yet, inland areas often endure hotter conditions, especially during the dry months. While this climate nurtures the growth of diverse crops, including its vital rice production, Côte d’Ivoire also faces the challenges of climate variability, with the potential for droughts, floods, and tropical storms impacting agriculture and livelihoods.

In order to enhance the resilience of vulnerable populations against the impacts of drought and flooding, the ISF signed a grant agreement with ARC Ltd, as the project lead; FUSCOP, a local rice producers’ association; Sarmap, an international InsurTech; and CASAI, an international consulting company. The project objective is to extend coverage to 125,000 rice producers, shielding their incomes and fostering sustainable agricultural practices. Building upon a successful pilot program supported by the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which covered 5,000 producers, FUSCOP’s initiative represents a significant step towards enhancing the resilience of Côte d’Ivoire’s rice sector.

The proposed ISF project seeks to improve the insurance solution by combining elements of weather index insurance and area-yield insurance into a hybrid insurance product solution, and to expand the offer of drought and excess rainfall insurance, ultimately benefiting the affected vulnerable populations.