The Philippines remains to be the world’s topmost disaster-prone countries for 17 years, with climate-related shocks such as typhoons, floods, and droughts disproportionately affecting low-income households and micro- and small enterprises. These recurring shocks continue to strain humanitarian systems and public resources, reinforcing cycles of vulnerability and recovery dependence.
Initial evidence from Oxfam’s Anticipatory Action demonstrates that strategic investments in disaster preparedness and pre-emptive financing can reduce recovery costs, enable affected populations to resume income-generating activities faster, and strengthen resilience to future shocks. Recognizing the critical role of financial institutions in humanitarian crises, Oxfam a scoping study titled “Building Elements of Sustainable Disaster Risk Financing Strategy.” The study examined the feasibility of pre-emptive financial services based on parametric forecasting and risk modeling technologies, drawing on strong interest among financial institutions in pre-emptive and disaster-preparedness-oriented financial services. Study results reveal the following critical conditions for sustainability and uptake of anticipatory financing:
- Accuracy and reliability of weather and hazard indices,
- Geographic availability of index data,
- Price affordability and user demand,
- Client financial literacy levels, and
- Availability of funding and risk-sharing mechanisms.
Financial institutions emphasized that grants, subsidized funding, credit risk-sharing arrangements, technical support for product design, staff training, and financial literacy and disaster preparedness support for clients are essential to scale sustainable disaster risk financing solutions.
Building on this evidence, Oxfam Pilipinas is now exploring shock responsive parametric insurance solutions as part of a broader Disaster Risk Financing (DRF) strategy that aims to protect and reduce economic shocks on vulnerable livelihoods of farmers, fishers, informal sector, MSMEs and of other vulnerable sectors. This includes assessing the feasibility of developing an insurance product for households and small businesses, either through partnerships with insurers or through the establishment or management of a Mutual Benefit Association (MBA) model.
DRF Scoping Study Lead will undertake the following:
A. Market and Ecosystem Scoping
- Review of existing Evidence and Lessons learned from Oxfam multiple AA projects implementation, and Building Elements of Sustainable Disaster Risk Financing Strategy study and identify key success factors, gaps, and unresolved feasibility questions.
- Identify key roles and incentives of key stakeholders in the Philippine disaster risk and inclusive insurance ecosystem, including:
- Parametric and index-based insurance initiatives
- Microinsurance and climate finance products
- Government agencies such as Insurance Commission, PCIS, GSIS, Insurers, reinsurers, brokers, MBAs, cooperatives, MFIs, banks, and development actors.
B. Feasibility Assessment
1. Business, Funding, and Partnership Models
- Analyze and compare institutional options:
- Partnership with insurers/reinsurers
- Oxfam as facilitator or aggregator
- Establishment or management of an MBA
- Assess funding requirements, including:
- Grants and premium subsidies
- Credit risk-sharing mechanisms
- Technical assistance needs
2. Regulatory and Institutional Analysis
- Review regulatory requirements for Parametric and microinsurance products
- Consumer protection and disclosure
- Establishment and governance of MBAs
- Identify compliance risks and enabling conditions.
3. Assess suitability of hazard indices based on:
- Accuracy, reliability, and geographic coverage
- Timeliness for anticipatory payouts
- Basis risk and client trust considerations
4. Demand, Affordability, and Uptake
- Assess demand and willingness to pay among households and small businesses.
- Analyze affordability constraints and subsidy needs.
- Review implications of client financial literacy and disaster preparedness levels on product uptake.
C. Recommendations
- Proposed business model based on comparative feasibility assessment using criteria such as:
- Financial sustainability
- Regulatory viability
- Partnership requirements
- Operational requirements for entity setting-up
- Alignment with anticipatory action principles
- Other factors to consider
- Ability to demonstrate collective leadership, program management, sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
- Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming and diversity for all aspects of development work.
- Commitment to Oxfam’s feminist principles and safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam and its partners are as safe as possible.
- Equality - We believe everyone has the right to be treated fairly and to have the same rights and opportunities.
- Empowerment - We acknowledge and seek to expand people’s agency over their lives and the decisions that impact them.
- Solidarity - We join hands, support, and collaborate in working towards a just and sustainable world.
- Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.
- Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions
- Courage - We speak truth to power and act with conviction on the justice of our causes
Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
How to Apply
Applications must include a curriculum vitae and a letter of intent, in a single file.
Applicants may also submit their applications to ophrecruitment@oxfam.org.ph. Please use the email subject format: Position Applied For - Surname, First Name.
Offer ended on January 23, 2026
