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Dear readers, dear friends of the Munich Re Foundation, |
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We wish you a joyful Christmas season and a good start to the new year!
In the fourth quarter of 2025, we consistently continued our foundation’s work on risk prevention and climate change adaptation. At the same time, the increasing consequences of climate change were clearly visible across many of our projects. The effects were particularly severe in Central Vietnam, where heavy flooding had affected our project “Strong roots, strong women”.
The risks of climate change were also a key topic at the International Conference on Inclusive Insurance (ICII 2025) in Quito, Ecuador, given the region’s high climate vulnerability. The 24 sessions highlighted how essential inclusive insurance solutions are in reducing vulnerability in developing and emerging countries. In parallel, our RISK Award projects in South Africa and Bolivia achieved important progress in climate change adaptation.
At our foundation’s location here in Munich, we hosted discussions during our dialogue forums on climate change and health, hydrogen, and the role of businesses in climate protection. Once again, these discussions illustrated how crucial it is to bring together perspectives from research, the private sector, and policymaking to advance effective climate change mitigation.
We look back positively on our achievements in 2025 and will continue to pursue our projects with determination in 2026. We look forward to the next year with you and wish you an inspiring read.
Your team
Munich Re Foundation |
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International Conference on Inclusive Insurance 2025 – Summary
ICII 2025 took place from 13 to 17 October 2025 in Quito, Ecuador, and brought together around 430 experts from 47 countries. Discussions focused on pathways to accelerate the growth and economic viability of inclusive insurance solutions in developing and emerging markets. Across 24 sessions, more than 90 speakers explored innovative regulatory approaches, reducing the gender gap, the use of technology, building trust, and aligning products with clients’ needs.
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Inclusive insurance in Lloa: Building resilience for Ecuador’s farming communities The field trip, organised as part of ICII 2025, was hosted by Ecuador’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, together with FEDESEG. Around 60 participants gained in-depth insights in Lloa into how inclusive insurance sustainably safeguards agricultural livelihoods, stabilises value chains, and enables investment despite climate-related uncertainty.
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Dialogue Forum: Healthy Earth – Healthy People: We don't need to save the climate, we need to save ourselves! Climate change is more than an environmental issue – it threatens our health, well-being, and future. But what does this mean in concrete terms? What changes lie ahead, and how can we respond to them? At our dialogue forum, held in cooperation with the Healthy Planet – Healthy People Foundation, experts from science, medicine, business and local policymaking outlined scenarios for the future.
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Dialogue Forum: Hydrogen for climate protection - from hype to reality
Is hydrogen the ‘champagne of the energy transition’? Or an essential building block on the path towards a sustainable energy system? Where does it offer the greatest benefits, and which framework conditions are required to establish a competitive hydrogen market? Experts at our dialogue forum, held in cooperation with acatech, provided in-depth insights into the world of hydrogen.
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Dialogue Forum: Climate protection through businesses and markets – taking responsibility and seizing opportunities Multiple crises are pushing climate action down the political agenda. Policymakers are facing pressure from parts of the business community to weaken, or even roll back, climate regulations and targets. How can a market-based framework counteract this trend and incentivise climate-positive behaviour? What scope exists for innovative business models, new technologies, and economic alliances? Experts addressed these questions at our dialogue forum, in cooperation with the Catholic Academy in Bavaria.
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2023 RISK Award: Building a better early warning chain
Since autumn 2023, the Munich Re Foundation has been supporting the South African NGO Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD) in strengthening disaster early warning systems in the Inkomati River Basin around Mbombela. At the end of October, we conducted an on-site assessment. Much has moved forward, yet important challenges remain.
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Severe flooding in Central Vietnam – Update "Strong roots, strong women"
In autumn, Central Vietnam experienced one of the most severe flood disasters in recent decades. The project region of “Strong Roots, Strong Women” was also heavily affected. Communities were submerged under metres of water, activities had to be suspended, and initial damage was documented. Despite these challenges, there are early indications that at least the young mangrove plants from our project have survived the floods.
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2025 RISK Award: Indigenous youth leading change
In Bolivia’s Chiquitano Indigenous Territory, children and youths are leading efforts to make their schools and communities safer, greener, and better prepared for disasters. Five months into the 2025 RISK Award project, ChildFund Bolivia - together with local partners We Effect and APCOB - is already seeing early results, using indigenous knowledge, nature-based solutions, and innovative low-cost technologies to strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
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From prototype to practice: the Planned Relocation Simulation goes live
After two years of development, a new training tool is being launched: the Planned Relocation Simulation. It makes the complex decision-making processes surrounding planned relocation tangible, and strengthens understanding of risks, roles, and trade-offs in climate change adaptation.
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Dialogue Forums 2026
Following the winter break, the dialogue forums will continue in March 2026. Stay tuned for more engaging discussions on climate mitigation. We will keep you informed on our website.
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ILO's Impact Insurance Academy 2026 – Register now! The next ILO’s Impact Insurance Academy will take place in April in Turin. The Academy offers professionals from the insurance sector, regulatory authorities, and development organisations practical insights, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Current trends and case studies will be addressed, and participants will have the opportunity to discuss their own projects with experts. Register now and deepen your knowledge of inclusive insurance models.
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11th Africa Regional Conference on Inclusive Insurance – Save the date!
The AfCII 2026 will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 in Lomé, Togo. Togo's Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, Universal Health Coverage and Insurance will host the Conference on Inclusive Insurance in collaboration with the Munich Re Foundation, FinProbity Solutions and the Microinsurance Network. The event will bring together professionals from around the world to share experiences and discuss key issues related to inclusive insurance. This year's conference will focus on ways to increase insurance outreach in West Africa in particular. > more
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International Conference on Inclusive Insurance 2026 – Save the date!
The International Conference on Inclusive Insurance 2026 will be held from 19 to 23 October 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. Experts from more than 50 countries will showcase how the growth and economic viability of inclusive insurance solutions in emerging markets can be strengthened. The conference is hosted by the Rwandan Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR), Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR), the Rwanda Insurers Association (ASSAR), and the Rwanda Insurance Brokers Association (RIBA), in cooperation with the Munich Re Foundation and the Microinsurance Network. > more
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Executive Board
Renate Bleich, Managing Director
Dirk Reinhard, Deputy Managing Director
Chair of the board of trustees
Dr. Doris Höpke |
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Munich Re Foundation - Königinstraße 107 - 80802 Munich - Germany
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