The Centre for Disaster Protection, an organisation focused on helping countries and humanitarian agencies better prepare for and respond to natural disasters through innovative financing solutions, has announced the appointment of Cristina Stefan as its new Head of Advisory.
Stefan brings a wealth of experience in advising on the design of pre-arranged financial solutions, including sovereign insurance products, agricultural insurance schemes, insurance-linked securities, and other alternative risk transfer mechanisms.
Having been with the Centre for the past five years, Stefan has significantly contributed to its reputation for delivering exceptional client service and thought leadership in the field of disaster risk financing.
Her efforts have been instrumental in developing pioneering solutions, such as the first-ever indemnity insurance instrument tailored for the humanitarian sector.
Stefan’s extensive technical expertise and experience in fragile contexts have been essential in supporting the World Bank’s Adaptive Social Protection Programme (SASPP) in the Sahel region, where she led country-level risk diagnostics and worked closely with stakeholders from the humanitarian sector.
She has also had a major influence on global health policy, particularly in the area of pandemic and epidemic risk financing. Stefan spearheaded the development and launch of the first sovereign insurance product against epidemics in Senegal, marking a significant milestone in the sector.
Before joining the Centre, Stefan played a critical role in the World Bank’s financial response to the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019. She also helped design and launch the first meso-insurance scheme for the agricultural sector in the country, which provided critical protection to farmers against extreme weather events.
Stefan holds a master’s degree in actuarial science from the University of Economics in Bucharest and a Diploma from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in the UK.
Stefan said: “I’m honoured to accept this appointment. I look forward to contributing to the strategic development of the Centre for Disaster Protection and expanding the reach of more and better pre-arranged finance solutions in vulnerable countries. I’m also excited to be working closely with international actors seeking quality advice when operationalising their crisis and climate risk response products around the world.”
Daniel Clarke, Director of the Centre for Disaster Protection, commented: “Cristina’s appointment as Head of Advisory reflects her exceptional contributions to the Centre’s clients and the broader sector. Over the past five years, her contributions have been critical for the development of innovative solutions, such as the first indemnity insurance product for a humanitarian pooled fund.
“Cristina brings both technical expertise and humility, and her commitment to the Centre’s values have strengthened the Centre’s reputation for high-quality, impartial work. We are confident that under her leadership, the Advisory team will continue to support pre-arranged financing solutions that help vulnerable countries better manage disaster risks and protect their communities.”
