Cenfri has deep insurance expertise from working with the insurance markets in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Insurance penetration in these markets is often low and we understand the need for responsible market innovation so that insurance fulfils its optimal role in building resilience, supporting business growth, and contributing to broader policy and development objectives.
The breadth of Cenfri’s insurance and resilience work spans diagnostic studies, development of global and regional standards and national regulations, technical assistance and innovation support (to regulators and the private sector), innovation studies, MSME-tailored resilience solutions, improved risk management in response to climate-related events, and definitive work on cell captives.
Our partners include GIZ, Access to Insurance Initiative (A2ii), the UK’s FCDO (formerly DFID), the FSD Africa and other financial sector deepening trusts, the Swiss Capacity Building Fund, FSCA, Hollard, Santam, Old Mutual, AXA, Britam, Generali, the Microinsurance Network, UNCDF, UNDP, The World Bank, IFC, IADB and ADB.
Too often, financial systems overlook the lived realities of women, leading to products, policies, and market structures that do not adequately serve them. In an effort to change this, Cenfri applies a gender lens across its financial inclusion and market diagnostics work. We have developed a portfolio of related work
For those in development, 2025 has been a bit of a wild ride and many organisations have been doing some introspection. The team at Cenfri has been thinking about how we can continue to pursue evidence-driven impact, financial independence and sustainability with an inspired, capable and purpose-driven team (our enduring
“It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul”. This quote from a KwaZulu Natal (KZN) municipality captures the cycle many South African municipalities are currently trapped in – scrambling post-disaster to shift funds from maintenance to disaster response. In 2022, South Africa’s KZN province was hit by catastrophic floods that claimed
South Africa faces growing exposure to severe natural disasters, with annual disaster relief costs averaging R3.7 billion, 86% of which are uninsured. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns of increasing disaster frequency and severity due to climate change. Municipalities, at the forefront of disaster response, require
Our work at Cenfri rarely follows the typical rhythms of the calendar year, yet, as 2024 draws to a close, we thought it would be good to reflect on what we’ve achieved. It’s been a busy few months: we’ve worked on around 50 projects and undertaken work-related travel to 19
Lessons from scaling retail health microinsurance in Kenya It is often assumed that people with limited income will always choose the cheapest option available. However, this isn’t always the case. Take Mercy, a single mother in Nairobi[i], for example. When buying school shoes for her children, she opted for a
Lessons from scaling retail health microinsurance in Kenya We’ve all been there. You wake up feeling unwell and, being a rational person, you turn to Dr. Google. Perhaps you search for “low-cost clinics near me” or “affordable treatment for the flu.” Within seconds, you’re flooded with thousands of articles, and,
How can we prevent high healthcare costs and low insurance penetration from driving people into poverty? Imagine facing a medical emergency without insurance and having to choose between your health and financial stability. This is the harsh reality for many Kenyans, with 38.6% living below the poverty line and catastrophic
Innovation can enable insurance to become a powerful engine of growth and development across the continent, but achieving this requires that market players and regulators work together to build an ecosystem in which responsible innovation can thrive. For regulators, doing so means not only understanding the current state of innovation
In October 2023, Doubell Chamberlain spoke to Rishi Raithatha about the impact that innovation and technology has had on the microinsurance market over the last 10 years. This is a short excerpt from the full interview. You can read more of the interview on the MicroInsurance Network site. Q: What
Too often, financial systems overlook the lived realities of women, leading to products, policies, and market structures that do not adequately serve them. In an effort to change this, Cenfri applies a gender lens across its financial inclusion and market diagnostics work. We have developed a portfolio of related work
For those in development, 2025 has been a bit of a wild ride and many organisations have been doing some introspection. The team at Cenfri has been thinking about how we can continue to pursue evidence-driven impact, financial independence and sustainability with an inspired, capable and purpose-driven team (our enduring
“It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul”. This quote from a KwaZulu Natal (KZN) municipality captures the cycle many South African municipalities are currently trapped in – scrambling post-disaster to shift funds from maintenance to disaster response. In 2022, South Africa’s KZN province was hit by catastrophic floods that claimed
South Africa faces growing exposure to severe natural disasters, with annual disaster relief costs averaging R3.7 billion, 86% of which are uninsured. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns of increasing disaster frequency and severity due to climate change. Municipalities, at the forefront of disaster response, require
Our work at Cenfri rarely follows the typical rhythms of the calendar year, yet, as 2024 draws to a close, we thought it would be good to reflect on what we’ve achieved. It’s been a busy few months: we’ve worked on around 50 projects and undertaken work-related travel to 19
Lessons from scaling retail health microinsurance in Kenya It is often assumed that people with limited income will always choose the cheapest option available. However, this isn’t always the case. Take Mercy, a single mother in Nairobi[i], for example. When buying school shoes for her children, she opted for a
Lessons from scaling retail health microinsurance in Kenya We’ve all been there. You wake up feeling unwell and, being a rational person, you turn to Dr. Google. Perhaps you search for “low-cost clinics near me” or “affordable treatment for the flu.” Within seconds, you’re flooded with thousands of articles, and,
How can we prevent high healthcare costs and low insurance penetration from driving people into poverty? Imagine facing a medical emergency without insurance and having to choose between your health and financial stability. This is the harsh reality for many Kenyans, with 38.6% living below the poverty line and catastrophic
Innovation can enable insurance to become a powerful engine of growth and development across the continent, but achieving this requires that market players and regulators work together to build an ecosystem in which responsible innovation can thrive. For regulators, doing so means not only understanding the current state of innovation
In October 2023, Doubell Chamberlain spoke to Rishi Raithatha about the impact that innovation and technology has had on the microinsurance market over the last 10 years. This is a short excerpt from the full interview. You can read more of the interview on the MicroInsurance Network site. Q: What
