Glossary

Risk transfer

When disaster risk is shifted to insurers or capital markets.

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This report offers an in-depth assessment of pre-arranged financing tools using seven key criteria for ensuring pre-arranged financing reduces the human and financial costs of disasters

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other key terms

Sovereign insurance

Sovereign insurance is insurance coverage purchased by a national government to protect its budget against the financial impacts of disasters.

Contingent loan (or credit) and grants

A pre approved loan released automatically when agreed crisis conditions or triggers are met.

Preparedness

Skills, systems and resources developed to respond effectively to likely future crises.

Total crisis financing

Development funding focused mainly on crisis prevention, preparedness and response activities.

Catastrophe bond

A catastrophe bond (cat bond) is a risk-transfer financial instrument that allows governments or insurers to transfer disaster risk to capital market investors.

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.