About the IDF
Let's build future-ready nations
Where people, communities and economies can recover faster from disaster, attract investment and thrive.
Insurance capabilities can help nations shape a more resilient future that allows them to thrive and grow. Especially relevant for Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs), insurance offers more than post-disaster payouts. It allows countries to assess, manage and transfer risks before shocks occur. This protects people, stabilises national budgets, and secures investments. Insurance connects vulnerable economies to larger pools of capital. It reduces financial volatility and creates the predictability needed for long-term planning. By managing risks in advance, insurance builds confidence for future growth.
The IDF is led by the insurance industry and co-chaired by the World Bank and the UNDP.
Mission & vision
Mission
In a unique public-private partnership, the IDF closes insurance gaps so people, economies and nations can thrive.
Our mission is to drive action to close protection gaps, and to optimise and extend the use of insurance capabilities so people, economies and nations can thrive.
In building greater resilience and protection for people, communities, businesses, and public institutions vulnerable to disasters, the IDF also supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Vision
Our vision is to improve global risk understanding to create resilience and enable sustainable growth and human dignity.
Governance
The IDF is led by a Steering Committee of industry and public sector leaders. The Operating Committee drives implementation of the strategy that the Steering Committee approves, through the Working Groups and Task Forces, whose teams work on specific programmes and initiatives. The Secretariat helps drive and coordinate implementation of the IDF Strategy and drives IDF’s engagement and advocacy work.
Membership of the Steering Committee and Operating Committee is by invitation. Members are chosen on the basis of their commitment to the mission and vision of the IDF. The Steering Committee reflects the public-private nature of the IDF institution, and includes leadership of multilateral organisations, non-governmental organisations and global insurance industry participants.
Membership of the Working Groups and Task Forces is by invitation or application. Members are chosen on the basis of their expertise and experience in the relevant specific focus areas.
Each of these bodies is led by an IDF member of the insurance industry, and co-led by IDF public sector members. The IDF is led by the insurance industry and co-chaired by the World Bank and the UNDP.
With almost 120 partner organisations from across the world, the IDF is a truly cross-sector public-private partnership.
See our members on the broader IDF website here.
Our work
We take action together. To build a foundation for the future. To help nations be future-ready.
Closing protection gaps and driving greater use of insurance capabilities in countries which need it most is a monumental task that requires the effort of many, in close collaboration. IDF mobilises insurance expertise and capital from public and private funds, and coordinates with all stakeholders to deliver impactful action.
Through each Working Group, also working together, the IDF implements projects and initiatives in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs), engages public and private oganizations to contribute expertise and capital to IDF efforts, driving and advocating for greater use of insurance capabilities in these nations.
This includes designing risk transfer solutions, enhancing access to risk understanding and especially risk modelling, enabling a shift to greater use of measures than can reduce risk, investing in resilience, sharing knowledge about risk management, driving policy development and change and more, so vulnerable nations can not only protect their economies, but grow and thrive.
Learn more about our working groups and task forces by clicking on links below – Please note that these will take you away to our existing broader website. To learn what our work delivers, see our publication Insurance Development Forum – 2024 in Review – also on our existing website.
Inclusive Insurance Working Group (IIWG)
Law, Regulation and Resilience Policies (LLRP) Working Group
Risk Modelling Steering Group (RMSG)
Sovereign and Humanitarian Solutions (SHS) Working Group
Why partner with the idf
We are speaking to change agents
Through its work, IDF has established itself as a trusted partner, as demonstrated by the almost 120 organizations that contribute to its projects and initiatives.
Our brand refresh
The IDF website transition
This new IDF homepage is part of the IDF Brand Refresh launch on June 5th, on occasion of IDF Summit 2025 and the celebration of our 10th anniversary. A more energetic and clearer way to communicate with our stakeholders, and a refreshed visual presence as we reflect on achievements and move towards the future with renewed confidence.
There is more content on the IDF, with the previous branding, on the existing website pages. These will remain active as we continue to build out a complete new site, which will launch later this year.
We thank you for your patience while navigating both spaces in the meantime.
© 2025 Insurance Development Forum