2013年-世界发展银行全球_Initial_Market_Assessment___Country_Scoping_Note--Haiti_12页_1mb

Summary of the Political Champions Group - Partnership for Stimulating Insurance Penetration in Lower Income Countries: Haiti

Core Content

This document outlines the current state of Haiti's insurance sector and its exposure to natural disasters, highlighting the need for stronger market-based disaster risk financing mechanisms. It discusses the existing partnerships, challenges in the regulatory environment, and opportunities for scaling up insurance coverage and public-private collaboration.

Main Points

1. Haiti's Exposure to Natural Disasters

• Haiti is highly exposed to both hydrometeorological (hurricanes, floods, droughts) and geophysical (earthquakes, landslides) hazards.
• The 2010 earthquake caused massive destruction, affecting 3.5 million people and resulting in a cholera epidemic.
• Port-au-Prince is particularly vulnerable due to its location in flood plains and poor housing.
• Over 93% of the area and 97% of the population are exposed to two or more hazards.
• Haiti ranks 32nd in the WorldRiskIndex, driven by high exposure (20%) and vulnerability (72%).

2. Economic and Financial Impact of Natural Disasters

• Natural disasters cause significant annual losses (over 25% of urban produced capital from earthquakes).
• The 2010 earthquake caused 120% of GDP in direct economic losses and 5% decline in GDP growth.
• The 2012 tropical storms Isaac and Sandy caused an estimated US$250 million in economic loss, particularly impacting agriculture.
• Insurance coverage in Haiti is low, with less than 1% of direct economic losses insured, compared to 81% in New Zealand.

3. Government's Strategy and Commitment to Disaster Risk Financing

• The National Disaster Risk Management System (SNGRD) exists but lacks institutional support and a legislative framework.
• The government has limited institutional capacity for disaster risk management, relying heavily on local actors.
• Haiti joined the Caribbean Catastrophe Insurance Facility (CCRIF) in 2007, receiving a US$7.7 million payout after the 2010 earthquake.
• Current CCRIF coverage limits are US$35 million for tropical cyclones and US$20 million for earthquakes.
• Public assets are not insured, presenting an opportunity for government-led initiatives.

4. Ex Ante Public Interventions

• There is limited public investment in market infrastructure for disaster risk insurance, mostly donor-driven.
• The government has invested in seismic micro-zoning and risk modeling for disaster preparedness.
• The EDE PEP program is a major social assistance initiative, distributing cash transfers, food, and education subsidies to vulnerable populations.
• The government is strengthening social safety nets and exploring index-based insurance for agriculture and other sectors.

5. Post Disaster Public Interventions

• Haiti relies heavily on donor support for post-disaster relief, especially after the 2010 earthquake.
• Ad hoc social transfers are mostly provided by NGOs, with the government receiving less than 1% of relief funding.
• The Haiti Emergency Relief Response Fund has been used to support over 98 projects with more than US$80 million in funding.
• The risk of international NGOs undermining state authority is a concern, as the government lacks the capacity to implement and manage disaster response effectively.

6. Donor Overlap and Projects

• Many donors are involved in disaster risk management (DRM) projects, but few focus on ex-ante financing through market-based mechanisms.
• Key projects include:
  • Emergency Reconstruction and Disaster Management Project (US$19.4 million, 2005-2010)
  • Risk Management Program (US$7.8 million, 2006-2009)
  • National Early Warning System Program (various donors, 2006-2012)
  • Global Index Insurance Facility (supports index insurance and weather data for agricultural risk management)
  • Political Champions Group is working with the government to enhance disaster resilience through public-private partnerships.

7. Domestic Insurance Market

• The non-life insurance market is small and underdeveloped, with 16.5% tax on insurance premiums.
• The insurance sector is weak and poorly supervised, with limited regulatory oversight.
• The 1981 law gives the Finance Ministry authority to supervise insurance, but implementation is lacking.
• The World Bank has supported the drafting of supervision guidelines and regulations, but progress is slow due to resistance from insurance companies.
• Catastrophe reinsurance is not well established, and financial soundness of private insurers is unclear.

Key Opportunities and Recommendations

• Expand CCRIF coverage by increasing premiums to improve protection levels.
• Promote public-private partnerships for microinsurance and agriculture index insurance.
• Develop a legislative framework for disaster risk management and insurance.
• Strengthen institutional capacity and governance to ensure effective implementation of insurance mechanisms.
• Integrate insurance into public financial management to support ex-ante disaster resilience.
• Enhance public awareness and education on disaster risk and insurance mechanisms.
• Leverage data and models for better risk assessment and insurance pricing.