

Olivier Mahul
Dr. Olivier Mahul is Practice Manager of the World Bank's Crisis & Disaster Risk Finance unit, which provides developing countries with analytical, advisory, convening and financial services to improve financial planning against disasters, climate shocks and other crises. He oversees the Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Program (DRFIP) and the Global Index Insurance Facility (GIIF). DRFIP implements, among others, the WB-UK Disaster Risk Finance Hub in London in partnership with the Center for Disaster Protection, and the Global Risk Financing Facility in partnership with the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.
Since he joined the World Bank, Olivier has been involved in the development of innovative disaster risk financing and insurance solutions in more than 40 countries and he has led the creation of flagship regional initiatives such as the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Program (PCRAFI), and the Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF). Olivier holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Toulouse School of Economics and post-doctorates from Wharton Business School and University of California at Berkeley.


Natural disasters cost about US$18 billion a year in emerging markets and developing economies through damage to power generation and transport infrastructure alone.


As the people of Vanuatu begin the painstaking task of assessing the damage to their homes, businesses, and their communities in the wake of Cyclone Pam, another assessment is underway behind the s