Spotlight on Blue Marble

Blue Marble is a for-profit social enterprise specializing in building climate resilience for vulnerable communities. It was established in 2015 as a collaborative initiative within the insurance industry.  

Aspen, one of the insurance companies co-owning Blue Marble, plays a key role by providing leadership and resources to help advance Blue Marble’s initiatives in collaboration with other consortium members.  

Blue Marble delivers socially impactful, commercially viable protection to two key typically uninsured groups in developing countries exposed to climate risks: 

• Income stability and food security for smallholder farmers through innovative climate insurance products such as index-based weather insurance​ 

• Income protection safety nets for individuals and SMEs against health issues, business interruptions, and other threats 

From coffee growers in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia and Kenya to self-employed women in India and small-scale herders in Kyrgyzstan, Blue Marble partners with local insurance carriers to offer coverage to communities affected by weather-related damages that threaten their livelihoods. 

Blue Marble has reached more than 1.4 million beneficiaries across 15 countries with active programs that have consistently delivered timely payouts when adverse conditions occur. Among its partners, Blue Marble has been working with Nespresso since 2018 providing insurance to its coffee farmers. In Colombia, where the program started, Blue Marble has enabled claim payments of over $6 million to more than 10,000 coffee farmers, protecting their livelihoods from drought and excess rainfall driven by El Niño and La Niña climate oscillations. 

In addition, earlier this year Blue Marble launched a climate adaptation project in Kenya with support from USAID, aimed at protecting coffee farmers from income losses due to climate-related events such as droughts and floods.  Blue Marble’s initiatives showcase the impactful role of public-private partnerships in providing access to insurance and strengthening resilience for vulnerable communities. Their efforts offer both immediate financial support and promote long-term investment in sustainable practices. 

Jonny Atkinson, Aspen’s Group Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Blue Marble, commented, “It’s fantastic to see Blue Marble making a positive impact globally. We’re extremely proud of our contribution to Blue Marble. It demonstrates how the insurance industry can be a powerful force for good in making microinsurance a sustainable product with significant potential for positive impact.” 

Jaime de Piniés, CEO Blue Marble, added “At Blue Marble, we are committed to leveraging innovative insurance products to build resilience among the most vulnerable populations. Our work in partnership with local and international organizations is a testament to the power of collaborative efforts in creating sustainable safety nets for those who need them most. By protecting farmers and small businesses against climate-related risks, we are not only securing livelihoods but also contributing to the stability and growth of communities worldwide.  Thank you, Aspen, for all your support!” 

Find out more about our approach to sustainability in our Sustainability Report.