SEADRIF, together with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viet Nam Government, and key public and private sector stakeholders, held a consultation workshop for the Regional Agricultural Risk Finance Facility (ARFF) in Hanoi on 25 August, 2025. This consultation was part of a broader regional effort involving six ASEAN countries to explore the establishment of an agricultural risk finance facility aimed at addressing challenges in the region’s agriculture sector.
SEADRIF’s Executive Director, Benedikt Signer, and Implementation and Program Development Specialist, Shannen Nicole Chua, presented on the ARFF concept note and its alignment with existing insurance products, highlighting how the facility could strengthen financial resilience in Southeast Asia’s agricultural sector. During the workshop, stakeholders stressed the need to raise awareness and capacity regarding agriculture insurance, build trust among stakeholders, and develop products suited to the varied needs of farmers. The Department of Economic Cooperation and Rural Department shared that the proposed facility closely aligns with government’s strategy to shift from simple disaster relief to a broader risk management strategy to manage disaster impacts in the agriculture sector.
SEADRIF is encouraged by the momentum fostered by these consultations, as advancing agricultural risk financing is critical to protecting vulnerable communities, stabilizing rural economies, and fostering long-term climate resilience across Southeast Asia. SEADRIF is committed to working closely with partners and clients to realize the joint vision of the regional ARFF.
