Willis and Global Parametrics deliver first payout to coffee farmers in Vietnam hit by heavy rainfall
LONDON, 21 May, 2026
Willis, a WTW business (NASDAQ: WTW), and Global Parametrics, a parametric risk transfer provider and CelsiusPro Group company, announce that payouts of an innovative parametric policy have been distributed to coffee farmers in the Central Highlands of Vietnam who suffered losses due to high rainfall during the 2025/26 coffee growing season.
These payouts come shortly after funds were triggered under a separate parametric drought policy structured and placed by Willis in 2024, also for the benefit of Vietnamese coffee growers. The new high rainfall policy aims to build on this success, increasing the scope of parametric protection available to farmers.
In late 2025, Willis placed the high rainfall parametric solution with Bao Minh Insurance Corporation in Vietnam, protecting coffee farmers’ revenue against a loss of yield due to excessive rainfall during the ‘golden’ harvesting period. The solution uses satellite data from NASA to measure rainfall levels in three areas of the Gia Lai province – West Ia Grai, East Ia Grai and North Chu Prong. If the rainfall exceeds predefined values, the insurance is triggered and the farmers receive timely payouts without the need for lengthy claims processes or on-the-ground assessments.
Risk capacity to support the payouts was provided by the Natural Disaster Fund (NDF), a public-private partnership managed by Global Parametrics, a subsidiary of CelsiusPro Group, specialising in parametric protection against climate and natural disaster risks. The NDF is funded by the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Germany’s development bank KfW on behalf of BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Collaboration and Development).
Once again, Willis’ parametric solution responded exactly when needed. The 2025/26 policy coincided with Typhoon Kalmaegi, which caused some of the worst flooding of modern times in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Rainfall exceeded 1.7m in some parts of the central highlands with Gia Lai being one of the areas badly affected. This decimated livelihoods, with some coffee farms completely submerged, significantly reducing yield .
Nathan Pereira, Analyst, Alternative Risk Transfer Solutions at Willis, said: “This programme delivers tailored and timely financial protection to vulnerable coffee farmers, while strengthening trust in insurance and improving understanding of how effective risk solutions can support their livelihoods.”
Mark Rueegg, Chief Executive at CelsiusPro Group, said: “Delivering rapid, reliable payouts after extreme weather events is exactly what parametric solutions are designed to do. This programme demonstrates how innovative risk transfer, backed by strong public-private partnerships, can provide meaningful financial resilience to vulnerable farming communities. By combining advanced data with local expertise, we are helping to close protection gaps and support more sustainable agricultural livelihoods in the face of increasing climate volatility.”
The high rainfall programme formed part of an initiative supported by the InsuResilience Solutions Fund (ISF), delivered in partnership with Willis, ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Ltd, Bao Minh Insurance Corporation, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Vietnam, and the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) in Australia.
Nguyen Thi Mai, Sustainability Project Assistant at ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Ltd, said: “This payout underscores the value of innovative risk solutions in agriculture, demonstrating how such initiatives can translate into real support for farmers facing extreme weather. Through close collaboration with partners, it reflects a shared effort to help farmers manage climate risks while contributing to a more resilient and sustainable supply chain."
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About The Natural Disaster Fund (NDF)
CelsiusPro Group’s work focuses strongly on supporting vulnerable communities in the Global South, where climate-related disasters are increasing in frequency and severity. This involves industry partnerships with leading global insurers such as Hannover Re and Canopius as well as public-private partnerships through the Natural Disaster Fund (NDF).
The NDF is managed by Global Parametrics - a CelsiusPro subsidiary - and is capitalized by commitments from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Germany’s development bank KfW on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Their public investment is blended with matching risk capacity from Hannover Re.
Learn more at: naturaldisasterfund.com
About CelsiusPro Group
CelsiusPro Group is a technology-driven underwriter that provides climate and natural catastrophe insurance using satellite data to automatically pay out when natural catastrophes and extreme weather hits. Our platform solutions integrate climate data and risk modelling which enables insurance companies and brokers to distribute and manage tailored parametric insurance.
In 2023, CelsiusPro Group acquired Global Parametrics, a parametric risk transfer provider that supports natural disaster resilience for climate-vulnerable communities. Global Parametrics mobilises risk capacity to underwrite parametric coverage through dedicated structures, which are backed by AA-ratings reinsurers.
Through our consulting services, CelsiusPro Group provides end-to-end insights via climate risk assessments, disaster risk financing strategies, as well as structuring and risk modelling for insurance initiatives.
CelsiusPro Group advances parametric risk transfer from the fringes to the forefront in climate and natural catastrophe protection.
Learn more: celsiuspro.com
About WTW
At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organisations sharpen their strategy, enhance organisational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximise performance.
Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success - and provide perspective that moves you.
Learn more at wtwco.com.
Media contact:
CelsiusPro Group - Russell Hergert