Dr. Olivier Mahul is a financial economist and global expert in decision theory under uncertainty, with applications in development economics, climate finance and disasters risk finance and insurance. He is currently Practice Manager of the World Bank’s Crisis & Disaster Risk Finance Unit, which provides developing countries with analytical, advisory, convening and financial services to improve financial resilience against disasters, climate shocks and other crises. He oversees the Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Program (DRFIP), the WB-UK Disaster Risk Finance Hub in London, and the Global Risk Financing Facility (GRiF).
Olivier has contributed to disaster risk financing and insurance policy reforms and innovative financial solutions in more than 40 countries. Olivier has been one of the architects of flagship regional initiatives such as the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Program (PCRAFI), and the Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Insurance Facility (SEADRIF).
Olivier holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Toulouse School of Economics and post-doctorates from Wharton Business School and University of California at Berkeley. Olivier has authored more than 40 publications in international journals and two books: “Catastrophe Risk Financing in Developing Countries: Principles for Public Intervention” (with J. David Cummins) and “Government Support to Agricultural Insurance: Challenges and Options for Developing Countries” (with Charles Stutley).
