Now reading: The potential of remittance-linked insurance products in sub-Saharan Africa

Resilience & Insurance


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. 

Payments & Remittances

The potential of remittance-linked insurance products in sub-Saharan Africa

Exploring the potential of remittance-linked insurance products to improve the resilience of households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)  Remittances are particularly important on the continent and serve as a lifeline to many households. Yet insurance products that enable the sustained flow of remittances or the resilience of senders and receivers remain unexplored in SSA.  Both remittance

From product provider to trusted risk advisor
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

From product provider to trusted risk advisor

Unlocking the SME insurance market through a holistic approach to building resilience. I recently moved into an apartment above a popular Cape Town restaurant, the owner of which is also my landlord. Last week, the restaurant had a major leak that took a plumber three days to fix. Fixing a

Uganda proportionate risk assessment
Resilience & Insurance

Assessing risks with limited actuaries

The versatile proportionate risk assessment tool developed by The International Actuarial Association  For effective risk-based financial management and supervision, individuals and organisations need to identify the key risks before they can be managed or supervised. To assist with this in areas where actuarial skills are limited, a practical risk assessment tool has been developed by the International Actuarial Association (IAA)’s Inclusive Insurance (previously Microinsurance) Working Group.  This

African insurance market
Payments & Remittances

Building African insurance market resilience

The need to build greater resilience in Africa and globally has been clearly demonstrated by the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our society. The insurance industry has not been unaffected; work Cenfri did with OESAI and FSD Africa in June indicated that over 60% of insurers experienced a

Africa’s insurance fails to deliver on COVID-19
Payments & Remittances

Africa’s insurance fails to deliver on COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on the need for the African insurance sector to demonstrate its critical role in supporting people and businesses. The pandemic has been the most severe risk event in Africa in years, but many insurers have not delivered on their promise. If the sector

FSD Africa impact report
Payments & Remittances

FSD Africa’s Impact report

Between 2012 and early 2020, FSD Africa, supported by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, reached over 5.47 million people and contributed to at least 3.2 million MSMEs accessing credit to grow and/or sustain their businesses with financial services and products across Africa. In FSD Africa’s inaugural Impact Report they unpack how they achieved this impact

Cell captive insurance
Governance, Policy & Regulation

South Africa’s draft conduct standard for third-party cell captives: ironing out the details

In September 2020, the South African Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) published the draft conduct standard for third-party cell captives for public comment. The issuance of the draft conduct standard represents the culmination of a long regulatory journey for cell captives in South Africa, first via licence conditions placed on

MSME microinsurance
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Managing risks (more) effectively: Rethinking insurance for MSMEs 

MSMEs form the backbone of many economies globally and give rise to economic growth, employment and innovation. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the extreme vulnerability of MSMEs to exogenous shocks and risks. However, the uptake and use of insurance remains extremely low for this group. In sub- Saharan Africa, it

Resilience & Insurance

The impact of COVID-19 on the Rwandan insurance sector

The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying containment and mitigation measures have affected and disrupted the operations of industries around the globe. This report explores the impact of COVID-19 on the Rwanda insurance sector   Rwanda was the first African country to implement a national lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19. Lockdown measures included the closure and suspension