Centre for Disaster Protection

What Centre for Disaster Protection does

The Centre for Disaster Protection is a London-based non-profit organization founded in 2018 and managed by DAI as Managing Agent. It is purpose-built to help developing countries plan and pay for disasters before they strike by advancing the use of pre-arranged disaster risk financing — instruments such as contingent credit, risk pools, parametric insurance, and catastrophe bonds that release funds automatically or on pre-agreed triggers. The Centre's primary customers are sovereign governments in climate-vulnerable countries (named engagements include The Gambia, Vanuatu, Jamaica, and Zambia), regional risk pools (PCRIC, ARC, CCRIF, SEADRIF), and humanitarian organizations (IFRC, WFP).

Its core products are organized around three functions. Under Client Services, the Centre delivers tailored advisory to finance ministries and related institutions on designing and operationalizing pre-arranged finance instruments. Under Evidence, it publishes the State of Pre-Arranged Financing (PAF) Dashboard and annual State of PAF reports — the most-cited global reference dataset on the topic, with the 2025 edition documenting a record $9.4B in pre-arranged disaster finance. Under Global Policy Engagement, it convenes and influences multilateral processes, including its role as Coordinator of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the Global Shield against Climate Risks (since November 2023), the High-Level Panel on Closing the Crisis Protection Gap (launched January 2024), and engagement with the G20 under the Brazilian (2024) and South African (2025) presidencies. The Centre also runs a Labs innovation platform (launched May 2026) and produces the Counter Crisis podcast.

The business model is grant-funded rather than fee-earning. The Centre does not sell its advisory services at market rates; instead, it operates under multi-year donor grants with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) as the anchor backer, evidenced by FCDO Board representation and DAI's role as Managing Agent. The organization employs approximately 24 staff and is led by CEO Daniel Clarke, an actuary with 40+ years of government advisory experience and author of "Dull Disasters?" — a profile that underwrites the Centre's credibility as an impartial technical advisor rather than a commercial vendor.

Name

Centre for Disaster Protection

Legal name

Centre for Disaster Protection

Website

https://disasterprotection.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Centre for Disaster Protection is a London-based non-profit that helps climate-vulnerable governments and humanitarian agencies plan and finance disasters before they occur, through advisory services, the State of Pre-Arranged Financing data products, and multilateral policy engagement including the Global Shield against Climate Risks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disaster Risk Financing Advisory Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (9281), International Affairs (928120)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Infrastructure & Project Finance Advisory (BPAHADAO)

Keywords

• Disaster risk financing
• Pre-arranged financing
• Climate risk advisory
• Humanitarian financing
• Parametric insurance advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

London, England

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Advisory and Capacity Development Services: The Centre offers a wide range of advisory, capacity development and learning services to governments and organizations, delivered impartially. DAI serves as the Managing Agent for the Centre for Disaster Protection.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Centre for Disaster Protection delivers impartial advisory, capacity development, and learning services to sovereign governments and humanitarian organizations to help them plan and pay for disasters before they strike. It also produces the annual State of Pre-Arranged Financing report series and operates an interactive State of PAF Dashboard providing global visibility into pre-arranged financing instruments (contingent loans, parametric insurance, catastrophe bonds, regional risk pools), and runs a Labs innovation platform that co-designs open tools with governments.

Product overview

The Centre for Disaster Protection offers a portfolio of interconnected products and services focused on disaster risk financing. The core offering includes the State of PAF Dashboard (an interactive data visualization tool) and annual State of Pre-Arranged Financing Reports (2023, 2024, 2025), which together provide comprehensive analysis of international pre-arranged financing trends. The Labs innovation platform works alongside governments to co-design open tools for disaster planning and payment. Supporting services include Client Services (advisory and capacity development), Evidence (research and insights), and Global Policy Engagement. The Centre also produces the Counter Crisis Podcast and maintains a Glossary of Disaster Risk Finance Terms as educational resources. The High-Level Panel on Closing the Crisis Protection Gap represents a major policy initiative driving global targets for pre-arranged financing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• State of PAF Dashboard An interactive data visualization tool providing the most comprehensive overview of international pre-arranged financing (coverage and payouts) at global and country level, with downloadable data. It tracks contingent loans, grants from MDBs, regional risk pool insurance, and catastrophe bonds across calendar years 2017 to 2024. Used by governments, researchers, and humanitarian practitioners.
• State of Pre-Arranged Financing Reports (Annual) Annual flagship report series (2023, 2024, 2025 editions) providing data and analysis on pre-arranged financing trends, patterns in international development financing, and coverage/payouts provided by instruments. Used by finance ministries, multilateral development banks, and humanitarian organizations.
• Labs Innovation Platform An innovation platform that works alongside governments to co-design open tools that make it easier to plan and pay for disasters, accelerating disaster risk financing solutions. For sovereign governments and their development partners.
• Client Services (Advisory & Capacity Development) Wide range of advisory, capacity development and learning services, all delivered impartially to help governments and organisations change how they plan and pay for disasters. Includes Disaster Risk Finance Diagnostics and pre-arranged financing instrument design. For finance ministries, planning authorities, and government agencies.
• Evidence (Research & Insights) Actionable insights and research that supports and directly contributes to better disaster risk finance policies and systems. For policymakers, practitioners, and researchers working on disaster risk finance.
• Global Policy Engagement Work across global and regional policy processes, bringing together actors who would not otherwise share a table to build shared understanding and drive change. Active in G20, UN Financing for Development, London Climate Action Week, and COP processes. For policymakers and multilateral stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pre-arranged finance reached all-time high of USD 9.4 billion in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• DAIcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 25 November 2023DAI is the Managing Agent for the Centre for Disaster Protection and has responsibility for policies and operational management of the organization.
• Global Shield against Climate RisksflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre was selected as Coordinator for the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the Global Shield against Climate Risks. This role enables the Centre to provide independent advice to support in-country processes and ensure Global Shield delivers on its ambition to close crisis protection gaps for vulnerable countries.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on disaster risk financing including Development Policy Financing with Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option, catastrophe bonds, and joint programs with countries such as The Gambia.
• African Risk Capacity (ARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional risk pool insurance provider for African countries. The Centre provides strategic support and advisory services to enhance ARC's collaboration and impact.
• Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility SPC (CCRIF SPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional risk pool insurance provider for Caribbean countries. The Centre supports and advises CCRIF SPC on strategic initiatives and enhancement of collaboration.
• Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre is working with the UK Government Actuary's Department to strengthen PCRIC's finances and standing with Pacific governments, building foundations for disaster risk financing in the region.
• Southeast Asia Disaster Risk and Insurance Facility (SEADRIF)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional risk pool insurance facility for Southeast Asia included in the Centre's State of Pre-Arranged Financing Dashboard tracking.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerColin Bruce, Special Envoy for Humanitarian and Development Affairs at ICRC, serves on the Centre's Board. Collaboration on humanitarian disaster response financing.
• African Development BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint work with African Development Bank to strengthen disaster risk financing strategies and improve responses to climate-related shocks in African countries.
• High-Level Panel on Closing the Crisis Protection GapflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvened by the Centre, this panel brings together world-leading experts and decision makers from across sectors and geographies to set out a compelling vision and roadmap for closing the crisis protection gap.
• UK Government Actuary's DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to strengthen PCRIC finances and standing with Pacific governments and donors, building foundations for disaster risk financing in the Pacific region.
• G20coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough sustained engagement with G20 members, the Centre helped include pre-arranged financing language in the final declaration under Brazil's 2024 presidency, carried forward into South Africa's 2025 presidency with dedicated High-Level Principles.
• Tortoise MediasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProduction partner for the Centre's Counter Crisis podcast series, a three-part series shedding light on disaster risk financing and preparedness topics.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): IFRC is the world's largest humanitarian network and key customer/partner for the Centre. The Centre supported IFRC's first-ever indemnity insurance policy that reached 1.6M people. Both organizations work at the intersection of humanitarian response and disaster risk financing.
• Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR): GFDRR is a World Bank-led partnership focused on disaster risk management and climate resilience in developing countries. It works directly with sovereign clients on disaster risk financing diagnostics and instruments, overlapping with the Centre's advisory mandate and partner ecosystem.
• Start Network: Start Network is a humanitarian organization focused on disaster response financing and anticipatory action, with a pre-positioned financing model. Christina Bennett (Start Network) sits on the Centre's Board. Both organizations share the mission of accelerating crisis financing and operate with similar humanitarian and governmental stakeholders.
• African Risk Capacity (ARC): ARC is the African Union's specialized agency providing sovereign parametric insurance against drought and other climate shocks. The Centre provides strategic advisory services to ARC and includes ARC in its State of PAF Dashboard, making them complementary partners in the African disaster risk finance ecosystem.
• CCRIF SPC (Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility): CCRIF is a Caribbean regional risk pool providing parametric insurance to member governments. The Centre provides strategic advisory and includes CCRIF in its flagship Dashboard. CCRIF and the Centre jointly shape Caribbean sovereign disaster risk financing policy and instrument design.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): ODI is a London-based global affairs think tank producing research on international development, climate finance, and public financial management. Shakira Mustapha (Centre's Head of Evidence) is a former ODI Research Fellow. Both organizations produce independent research and policy advice for governments and multilaterals on climate and disaster finance.

Emerging players

• Munich Re Foundation: Munich Re Foundation supports insurance and risk management initiatives in developing countries, including the Insurance Development Forum. Both organizations work on closing the protection gap and supporting climate risk insurance in emerging markets, often collaborating on sovereign risk pools.
• Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre: The Climate Centre is the IFRC's specialist unit on climate and disaster risk. Both organizations focus on anticipatory action, pre-arranged financing for disasters, and humanitarian climate response. The Climate Centre operates with similar stakeholders and complementary tools (forecast-based financing) to the Centre's pre-arranged financing focus.
• DAI Global: DAI is the Centre's Managing Agent handling operational and administrative functions under contract since November 2023. While DAI is a broader international development consultancy rather than a direct disaster risk finance specialist, its role as managing agent creates overlapping engagement with the Centre's operations and donor relationships.

Broad incumbents

• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): UNDP's Crisis Bureau and Climate Promise work on disaster risk reduction and recovery financing in developing countries. While much broader than the Centre's focus, UNDP operates overlapping advisory mandates to sovereign governments on disaster risk finance and resilience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-disaster-protection

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Disaster Protection