Can insurance catalyse government planning on climate? Emergent evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

•Insurers produce information that can support adaptation to climate change in Africa if it is accessible and useable.•Insurers need risk information for underwriting but tend not to consider climate change information.•Perverse incentives and lack of risk ownership can discourage wider use of risk information.•Government capacity building is needed to increase awareness of the benefits and uses of climate risk information.•Insurers must balance competitive advantage with strategic gains and social benefit when it comes to data sharing.