Protecting vulnerable women workers from the impacts of extreme heat
The challenge
More extreme weather conditions not only damage homes and property but also impact food supply, nutrition, air quality and spread of disease, causing deaths, injuries and chronical health problems.
Developing countries are heavily exposed to climate shocks and chronic onset, and women are disproportionately affected.
In India, around 90% of women workers participate in the informal employment sector – many work outdoors and in dangerously hot indoor conditions. If they do not go to work due to extreme heat conditions, they lose their daily wages.
The solution
The Women’s Climate Shock and Insurance and Livelihoods Initiative (WCS) was launched by Climate Resilience for All and the Self-Employed Women’s Association (India).
Launched in 2024, the WCS consists of parametric insurance covering extreme heat days (triggered by the number of consecutive days exceeding a pre-defined threshold temperature) and a layer of income support directly to the individual when there are harmful heat waves. The programme was co-designed by Swiss Re and ICICI Lombard.
The programme covers 22 districts in a gridded design that measures daily maximum temperature. The payout amount is based on the daily income per woman in the programme.