CLIMBS Advances Farmer-Level Climate Protection Through AFCIA Baseline Assessments

Baseline activities engage 178 farmer-members and six cooperatives across Bukidnon, Surigao del Norte, and Isabela

CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative has completed a series of Baseline Survey Assessments in three pilot provinces as an initial step toward strengthening climate resilience and expanding access to farmer-level Weather Protect Insurance (WPI).

The initiative is part of the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) Programme, with CLIMBS serving as a participant in the AFCIA Sprint Programme. The project is supported through funding from the World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator.

Conducted throughout June 2026, the assessments engaged 178 farmer-members from six cooperatives in Bukidnon, Surigao del Norte, and Isabela. The activities gathered essential information on the participants’ exposure to climate-related risks, experiences in recovering from extreme weather events, financial capacity, and access to climate risk protection mechanisms.

The first assessment was conducted on June 2–3, 2026, in Bukidnon, in coordination with Kauyagan Savers Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Bukidnon Government Employees Multipurpose Cooperative (BUGEMCO). A total of 63 farmer-members participated, composed of 28 members from Kauyagan Savers MPC and 35 members from BUGEMCO.

This was followed by the assessment held on June 10–11, 2026, in Surigao del Norte, in coordination with San Pedro Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (SPARBECO) and Alipao Multi-Purpose Cooperative (ALMUCO). The activity gathered information from 51 farmer-members, including 22 participants from SPARBECO and 29 participants from ALMUCO.

The third assessment was conducted on June 18–19, 2026, in Isabela, together with Christian Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Baro A Langa Ti Mannalon Agriculture Cooperative (BALMACO). A total of 64 farmer-members participated, with 32 representatives from each cooperative.

Beyond generating baseline data, the assessments provided an opportunity to better understand the realities faced by farming communities whose livelihoods remain highly vulnerable to changing weather patterns and climate-related disruptions. The insights gathered will help guide the design and implementation of farmer-level WPI in the identified pilot areas.

As a cooperative-owned insurance provider, CLIMBS recognizes that meaningful climate action must be rooted in the actual experiences, needs, and participation of cooperative members. Through data-informed planning and close coordination with participating cooperatives, the initiative seeks to develop climate risk protection solutions that are relevant, inclusive, and responsive to farmers’ circumstances.

The completion of the baseline assessments marks an important foundation for the succeeding phases of the project. It also reflects the cooperative movement’s continuing commitment to protecting livelihoods, strengthening financial resilience, and enabling farming communities to prepare for and recover from climate-related risks.