Nairobi, Feb. 28 -- Regional insurer Zep-Re has been appointed to cover underwriters for livestock farmers in a project meant to lessen the blow of drought in the region.

The $360 million programme supported by the World Bank means the firm, the insurance arm of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), will cover underwriters in Kenya and four other countries in the Horn of Africa to de-risk livestock farmers.

Drought in the region has seen 11 million animals die so far and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) last week warned the region should brace for more failed rains in the next season.

Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea are participating in this exercise for the first time leveraging on th...