Achieving scale is a significant success factor for microinsurance schemes, as low premiums with high costs require substantial volumes to make an initiative sustainable. However, achieving scale is difficult.

This report analysed 95 initiatives that achieved scale and evaluated eight case studies in detail to understand what drives scale. The study revealed that most initiatives that achieved scale in microinsurance did not build up to scale over time. Rather they sought out and maintained access to large target groups either through mandatory sales, partnerships (including access to voluntary groups, branding and product design) as well as agency.