Finance is crucial for containing the spread of the new disease while not leaving countries to raid their national budgets and accumulate unsustainable debt burdens. But we don't need just more money; we need systems that ensure money is timely and reaches the frontline. In Episode 3 of the Centre for Disaster Protection’s podcast, we discuss why the race against the next pandemic has already started.

In Episode II of the Centre for Disaster Protection’s podcast, Counter Crisis, the Centre’s Research Lead and development finance expert, Shakira Mustapha, is joined by Michai Robertson, a Research Fellow in climate and sustainability at the global affairs think tank ODI, to discuss the latest break-throughs in the global financing architecture dealing with the climate change: the Loss and Damage Fund and the Global Shield Against Climate Risk. They also explain how prearranged financing has featured in these, and previous efforts, and why it has sometimes been met with controversy.

While few would disagree on the importance of having plans in place before a crisis happens, why is there so little pre-arranged crisis financing, and why does a significant portion go to nations already better-equipped to handle disasters?

What needs to change to ensure the most vulnerable communities receive the protection they need?

Episode one features the Centre for Disaster Protection's Associate Director, Evidence, Lydia Poole, along with guest Ekhosuehi Iyahen, Secretary General of the Insurance Development Forum, shedding light on the blind spots of our current approaches to disasters, and how pre-arranged financing can help the most vulnerable people in the long term.