QBE Foundation has entered a partnership with Humanity Insured to broaden insurance coverage and resilience support for communities in Asia that are especially vulnerable to climate-related risks.
Announced on July 28, the initiative is designed to address the needs of groups such as smallholder farmers, residents of coastal areas, informal urban workers, and displaced populations.
Humanity Insured, established in late 2024, works with insurance industry partners to channel both private and philanthropic funding into regions most affected by climate change.
The organisation’s activities include providing grants to cover insurance premiums, supporting risk-sharing pools, enabling climate risk modelling, and funding resilience training and infrastructure tied to insurance solutions.
QBE Foundation is the first insurer to join Humanity Insured with a specific focus on Asia.
The collaboration aims to make insurance more accessible and affordable for those facing climate risks while also offering educational programs to improve risk awareness and preparedness.
This aligns with QBE Foundation’s broader commitment to financial inclusion and community support through affordable insurance.
The partnership will be rolled out over a two-year period, with QBE Foundation committing approximately SG$875,000 (around GBP £500,000).
In addition to financial backing, QBE Asia teams will participate in project development, share technical expertise, and work alongside Humanity Insured to enhance climate risk resilience across the region.
Rob Kosova, CEO of QBE Asia, said the partnership reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to support those at the forefront of climate risk in Asia.
“At QBE, we believe in the power of insurance to create meaningful change. Our partnership with Humanity Insured marks a significant milestone – not only are we proud to be the first insurer with a dedicated focus on supporting communities in Asia to join this initiative, but we are also deeply aligned in our shared mission to support communities most vulnerable to climate risk,” he said.
Charlie Langdale, CEO of Humanity Insured, said the partnership will help deliver advanced insurance solutions to those who need them most.
“We are proud to partner with QBE to drive real impact across Asia. At Humanity Insured, our mission is to bring the world’s most advanced insurance solutions to those who need them most, making them accessible to the most vulnerable so they can plan, rebuild, recover, and thrive. This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver on that mission, and we are thrilled to be working together to expand access, build resilience, and support communities on the frontlines of climate change,” he said.
The initiative will support projects that extend insurance protection and resilience-building resources to climate-affected groups.
Both QBE Foundation and Humanity Insured emphasised the importance of developing practical solutions that address evolving risks in the region.
QBE Asia employees will also contribute to knowledge-sharing and project implementation, aiming to create lasting resilience in vulnerable communities.
Kosova stated that the partnership is intended to leverage insurance expertise and resources to address the growing needs of those most exposed to climate risks.
“Together, we are co-creating solutions that extend protection to those who need it most, helping to build resilience and foster inclusion across Asia. This partnership reflects our focus on supporting community resilience at scale and using our expertise to drive impact where it matters most,” he said.
A recent analysis by Willis projects that insured losses from natural catastrophes in 2025 will again surpass $100 billion worldwide, continuing a trend that has persisted for seven years.
The Willis Natural Catastrophe Review highlighted several major events this year, including the January wildfires in Los Angeles, which have resulted in insured losses estimated at over $40 billion, making it the costliest wildfire event on record for insurers.
This single event represents nearly one-third of the total global catastrophe losses for 2024 and has placed considerable financial strain on insurers early in the year.
Other significant events in 2025 include large-scale wildfires in Japan and South Korea, a record-setting tornado season in the US, Australia’s first cyclone landfall near Brisbane in half a century, and Ireland’s highest wind speeds on record.
