At OKO Finance, we’ve always believed in the transformative power of climate insurance for smallholder farmers. From food security to financial stability, the right tools can help farming communities adapt to a changing climate while building brighter futures.
In collaboration with USAID, we were preparing to launch three ambitious, high-impact initiatives across Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Côte d’Ivoire. Each project was designed not only to improve resilience against climate shocks, but also to unlock income opportunities and strengthen local economies.
Unfortunately, all three projects were abruptly halted following the Trump administration’s decision to shut down several USAID programs in 2020, a policy shift that affected development efforts around the world.
But while this setback stalled implementation, it also created an exceptional opportunity: these projects are still viable, thoroughly developed, and ready for execution, awaiting new partners to bring them to life.
This initiative was designed to build awareness among farmers about climate insurance, while also creating employment opportunities for rural youth. By training young people as insurance distribution agents, the program addressed two major challenges at once: climate vulnerability and rural unemployment.
With training modules, outreach strategies, and local partnerships already mapped out, the program is ready for immediate launch.
In the DRC, our partnership with USAID aimed to introduce index-based insurance products for maize farmers, helping them cope with drought and erratic weather patterns. This would have been OKO’s first rollout in Central Africa — a crucial expansion in a country where farmers are increasingly exposed to climate risks.
All product design work, pricing models, and pilot frameworks are completed and ready to be implemented.
This initiative was set to deliver tailored insurance for key Ivorian crops: coffee, cashew, cassava, and rice. Expanding beyond our existing offerings, this project would have significantly scaled OKO’s reach and supported the country’s agricultural backbone.
Validated by local stakeholders and supported by feasibility studies, the project is well-positioned for rapid deployment.
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