Francophone Club to establish local branches across North Africa

AMRAE will consider establishing risk management branches in French-speaking countries across North Africa, as part of its Francophone Club.

Moroccan members of the Francophone Club are planning to create a local risk management branch within the club.

The news comes as the club’s president, Gilbert Canameras, announced its 2016 objectives, ahead of AMRAE’s annual conference in Lille, France.

Speaking to StrategicRISK before this morning’s third Convention de la Francophonie, Canameras said: “The idea is to help risk managers without a local and dedicated risk management association by improving their skills and knowledge.

“The Club is working on several projects. There is a very strong interest from risk managers, because they can often feel that they are [alone in their role] without a local risk management association.

“With the Francophone Club, they have the opportunity to discuss and share their concerns.”

One of the club’s aims is to expand its membership. So far, it has received new membership requests from French-speaking risk managers based in Gabon, Canada, Cameroon, France, and Morocco.

Also on the cards this year is a new website, which will help connect members from across the world.

It will agree on the rest of its 2016 projects after AMRAE’s general assembly to be held this month in Paris.

Climate change

At the AMRAE conference this year, Francophone Club members can expect an interactive session on about climate change risks, with a focus on natural catastrophes and insurance solutions available in French-speaking countries.

Natural catastrophes is a top risk in North Africa, particularly, drought. But floods are also causing concern for corporates, said Canameras. “The desert in southern Morocco experienced its first-ever floods last year. This is a new problem for risk managers there and they need to start thinking of prevention measure.”

Climate change is a one of the main themes of this year’s AMRAE conference and the association intends on publishing a report about the related risks, “but the first step is to exchange ideas on the subject through meetings or our website”.