Glossary

Index

In risk finance, an index is an indicator or measure that is chosen to be a good proxy for a type of shock, and used to determine payouts. For example, tropical cyclone categories used as an index for property damage or area average yield as a measure of lost agricultural production. Modelled estimates of damage costs are also used as indices (Centre for Disaster Protection).

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other key terms

Disaster risk financing

Financial arrangements made in advance to pay for disaster prevention, response and recovery.

International premium support

Premium support is international funding to pay for insurance premiums.

Hazard

A natural or human process that can cause injury, damage or disruption.

Social protection

Policies and programmes designed to reduce and prevent poverty and vulnerability throughout the life cycle.

Anticipatory Action

Actions taken before a crisis hits to prevent or reduce potential disaster impacts prior to a shock or before acute impacts are felt.

Vulnerability

Conditions that increase how severely people or communities are affected by hazards.