PRESS RELEASE
Apia, Samoa - 16 December 2025
The Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) and the World Food Programme (WFP), successfully completed the PCRIC Macro-Insurance Disbursement Plan Workshop on 16 December 2025 at the Sheraton Aggie Grey’s Hotel, Samoa.
The workshop brought together key Government stakeholders to collaboratively validate the national disbursement plan developed for Samoa’s PCRIC insurance payout. This initiative is a critical step toward strengthening Samoa’s disaster risk financing and ensuring that insurance payouts can be accessed and distributed efficiently, transparently, and promptly following an eligible disaster event.
Participants engaged in technical discussions on Samoa’s existing disaster response and public financial management systems, the PCRIC payout mechanisms, and how insurance funds can be aligned with national priorities and emergency response frameworks. The workshop also explored clear roles and responsibilities, governance arrangements, and trigger-based disbursement pathways to ensure that resources reach affected communities quickly when they are most needed.
The Ministry of Finance emphasized the importance of Samoa’s preparedness and resilience to climate-related shocks and natural disasters, and putting in place pre-agreed allocations and purposes for disbursement, would help the Government reduce delays in post-disaster response and better protect vulnerable populations. PCRIC and WFP highlighted the importance of macro-insurance as a key pillar of disaster risk financing, complementing national budgets and humanitarian response mechanisms. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to building financial resilience across the Pacific and to supporting governments in translating insurance coverage into real-world impact.
The outcomes of the workshop will inform the finalization of Samoa’s PCRIC Macro-Insurance Disbursement Plan, reinforcing the Government’s proactive approach to disaster preparedness and climate resilience.