Replica programme in Senegal supports Ndouff village with food and cash transfers
Senegal purchased drought coverage for the season 2018/2019. The total premiums paid amounted to $5.7 million: the government paid $3.1 million whereas the Replica partner paid $2.6 million. By payment of the premiums, more than 500,000 vulnerable people were insured.
Upon experiencing drought conditions Senegal qualified for a total payout of $23.1 million which was paid on time. The payouts went towards food, cash transfers and nutritional supplements for children under five years old.
Impact
The interventions had multiple impacts on the population and contributed towards the attainment of the SDGs:
- Improvements to risk coping abilities – leading to eradication of poverty: The population’s risk coping abilities were enhanced, allowing for protection of their livelihoods and assets.
- Eradication of hunger and through provision of food: The provision of food contributed towards the attainment of SDG #2. The food rations ensured that vulnerable people had food even after experiencing drought. There was notable improvement to maternal and child health and an eventual reduction in malnutrition related diseases.
- Protection of livelihoods and good health and well-being: With the protection of their livelihoods assured, the population would inevitably attain good health and well-being.
- Stronger resilience to climatic shocks: The communities built a stronger resilience to climatic shocks, allowing them to lead normal lives amidst the ever-changing climate.
“Children can now grow strong and healthy, and families can build a better future.”
The fruitful and groundbreaking partnership between Start Network and ARC Ltd began in 2018 when Start Network was invited to be part of the ARC Ltd programme as a Replica partner, with the role of replicating insurance policies taken by local governments. Start Network is made up of more than 50 aid agencies across five continents, ranging from large international organisations to national NGOs. Since becoming a Replica partner, alongside the World Food Programme, Start Network has played a key role in this programme, specifically in Senegal, where an insurance product and programme was offered by ARC Ltd to Start Network and the Senegalese government.
Through the programme, Start Network has strengthened the relationship between civil society and the sovereign state, building a symbiotic working relationship that grows our joint knowledge and capacity of risk management and macro insurance. The programme has also protected hundreds of thousands of families against the negative impacts of drought year on year.
In 2019, Start Network purchased complementary insurance policies in Senegal that released a total of $23.1 million payout that enables Start Network NGO members and the local government to jointly deliver early and proactive lifesaving assistance to Senegalese families in advance of a predicted severe drought.
The impacts of the 2020 lean season were then felt even more strongly by the most vulnerable communities in Senegal due to the detrimental impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, but thanks to the assistance distributed ahead of the most critical time, the detrimental effects were mitigated.
Throughout the payout process, the implementation phase, and the closeout and reporting thereof, the co-operation between Start Network and ARC Ltd has been productive. The protocols agreed in advance between all three parties (ARC Ltd, Start Network and the Senegalese government) were respected and adhered to, ultimately enabling timely and rapid disbursements of funds and humanitarian actions.
A comprehensive programme evaluation is currently ongoing, and results on the efficacy of this process and best practices from Senegal will be shared to be replicated in other ARC countries in years to come. Start Network hopes to remain a key partner of ARC Ltd and sovereign states in the Replica programme as it grows and expands.
“As we grow the evidence base for early humanitarian action, we hope to build a strong culture of innovative and effective climate risk management in African countries.”
Replica Programme in Senegal: Start Network – Anna Farina, Risk Financing, Operational Lead