SEADRIF was endorsed as ‘a key resource for financial resilience against disasters and climate shocks’ by the ASEAN Secretary-General at the ASEAN Strategic Policy Dialogue on Disaster Management (SPDDM) 2025 in Singapore. In his keynote address at the Dialogue, Dr Kao Kim Hourn underscored the importance of financial preparedness in safeguarding ASEAN’s development vision. Describing SEADRIF as central to this effort, he noted that ‘timely access to finance is critical before, during and after disasters’.
Highlighting SEADRIF’s role as an important actor in the region’s future resilience, Dr Kao said that ‘strengthening SEADRIF is essential, alongside building member states’ capacity to design insurance products suited to local risks’. He called for an acceleration in the region's investments in financial literacy and institutional capability so that disaster risk financing tools can be widely accessible and effective.
SEADRIF welcomes this recognition and will continue its mission alongside ASEAN and its partners to boost financial preparedness across the region. This acknowledgement underscores SEADRIF’s growing role in helping Southeast Asia prepare for and recover from climate shocks and disasters, in line with ASEAN’s Community Vision 2045. SEADRIF looks forward to expanding disaster risk financing in the region, creating tailored insurance solutions that help communities stand ready and resilient in the face of future shocks.
