SAIA to co-host Africa Sustainable Insurance Summit in Cape Town

Cape Town - The South African Insurance Association (SAIA) will next month co‑host the African Sustainable Insurance Summit 2026 (ASIS) alongside the Nairobi Declaration on Sustainable Insurance (NDSI) and in partnership with the Africa Insurance Organisation (AIO).

The three‑day summit from 4 to 6 February in Cape Town marks a pivotal moment for the continent's insurers against a backdrop of relentless cost pressures fuelled by growing extreme weather risks.

The summit opening will include remarks by Viviene Pearson, CEO of the South African Insurance Association (SAIA), who, together with Philip Lopokoiyt, NDSIA chair and Group CEO of ICEA LION Group, will set the agenda by emphasising the importance of transforming previous sustainability commitments into practical action within the insurance sector.

"The 2026 Africa Sustainable Insurance Summit enables us  to tackle the most pressing challenge of our time: moving beyond theoretical commitment and into the practical integration of ESG principles," said Pearson.

"By co-hosting this event with the NDSI and AIO, we aim to keep the African insurance sector at the forefront of global sustainability actions while delivering solutions that are uniquely adapted to the risks and opportunities of our continent."

As Africa faces escalating climate-related risks and socio-economic shifts, the role of the insurance industry has never been more critical.

Under the theme "Powering Pledge into Practice: Integration of Sustainability in the African Insurance Sector," ASIS 2026 will transition from high-level commitments to the practical  and appropriate implementation of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices within the businesses of insurers.

The summit will include a panel discussion on "Cities and Urban Resilience" featuring Pamela Ramagaga, General Manager for Insurance Risks at SAIA.

Urbanisation in Africa creates exposure to climate hazards and demand for innovative insurance solutions. The panel will delve into the role insurance can play in fostering climate-smart urban development and in building resilience to environmental risks in Africa's rapidly expanding cities.

Ramagaga says de-risking infrastructure and housing projects through parametric climate insurance, flood‑cover schemes and blended finance models can unlock private‑sector investment in sustainable city development.

In addition, public‑private collaborations have demonstrated how insurance can act as a catalyst for resilient urban growth. While the insurance sector plays a critical role in risk transfer, the public sector must also fulfil its responsibility by planning, building and maintaining infrastructure that accounts for climate-related risks, thereby reducing the severity and impact of climate-related disasters.

Other ASIS 2026 themes include:

• Progress, barriers, and opportunities to advancing sustainable insurance in Africa –
• Challenges for African insurers in adopting ESG including inconsistent regulation, limited data analytics, and high costs;
• Innovation driving progress in the insurance sector through digital platforms, advanced climate-risk analytics and tailored products.

"As the African continent continues to face unprecedented climate and socio-economic shifts, the insurance industry's role must evolve from traditional coverage to actively building systemic resilience," said Pearson.

Registration for ASIS 2026 is now open via the ASIS 2026 registration portal. Seats are limited and interested participants are encouraged to register promptly. Insurers, brokers, reinsurers, regulators, NGOs, academia, investors, ESG experts and media representatives are invited to join this landmark event to help shape the future of a sustainable African insurance landscape.