24th AIRDC Conference 2026

Distinguished guests, industry leaders, fellow insurers and reinsurers from across the developing world, a very warm welcome to Harare, the Sunshine City, and to Zimbabwe.

On behalf of the Local Organising Committee, it is my profound honour and privilege to welcome you to the 24th Conference of the Association of Insurers and Reinsurers of Developing Countries. That this conference is being held on African soil here in Zimbabwe, is a source of immense pride for us, and we have spared no effort to ensure that your experience here is both productive and memorable.

We gather under a theme that could not be more timely: “Insurance Resilience in the Face of Geo-Political and Technological Disruption for Developing Markets.” These are not words chosen lightly. They are a direct reflection of the world our industry inhabits today.

The Climate Crisis Is Here

Zimbabwe’s economy is undergoing rapid formalisation, bringing thousands of SMEs, informal traders, farmers and entrepreneurs into the formal financial system. For the insurance industry, this presents a significant growth opportunity but also a challenge. Many of our traditional products were designed for a different customer and a different era. As new segments enter the formal economy, we must rethink product design, distribution models, premium collection and claims processes to ensure insurance remains relevant, accessible and impactful.

At the same time, climate change continues to reshape risk across Africa. Droughts, floods, cyclones and erratic weather patterns are no longer future threats; they are present realities affecting livelihoods, businesses and economies. This demands innovative solutions, including parametric insurance, index-based agricultural products and other climate responsive risk transfer mechanisms that can build resilience among vulnerable communities.

A World Fractured by Conflict

Beyond our borders, we cannot ignore the profound disruption that global conflicts are causing to the world economic order. Wars in Europe and the Middle East have reshuffled trade routes, spiked energy and commodity prices, disrupted reinsurance capacity, and introduced sanctions regimes that complicate cross-border transactions for our markets. For developing economies already navigating thin capital margins and currency volatility, these geopolitical tremors carry outsized consequences. We must interrogate, as an industry, how we price political risk, how we structure our reinsurance arrangements, and how we engage with regulators to preserve market stability when the world outside is anything but stable.

Opportunity Within Disruption

Yet within these disruptions lie unprecedented opportunities. Africa’s insurance penetration remains among the lowest in the world, and that is not only a statistic; it is an invitation. Technology — from artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to mobile platforms and satellite-based monitoring — is transforming how insurance is delivered, enabling us to reach previously underserved populations and accelerate financial inclusion across developing markets.

The AIRDC was founded on the belief that developing markets are stronger when they work together. As we gather in Harare, I encourage all delegates to engage openly, share experiences, forge new partnerships and explore practical solutions that will strengthen the resilience, relevance and sustainability of our industry.

To our international guests: thank you for making the journey. You honour us with your presence. Zimbabwe is open, ready, and eager to show you the warmth and resilience for which our people are known.

To all delegates: the work you do matters enormously. Insurance is the quiet foundation upon which economic recovery, social stability, and national development are built. In a world as disrupted and as full of possibility as ours, that foundation has never been more critical — or more worth strengthening.

Welcome, once again, to Harare. Welcome to Zimbabwe. Let us get to work.