Now reading: A decade of microinsurance innovation: promising or ‘meh’?

Technology and Innovation


Technology and innovation is changing the nature of financial markets. Innovation can create opportunities, enhance efficiencies, increase competition, drive scale, and improve the reach and value of financial products and services to consumers. However, with innovation also comes risk.

Much attention is currently placed on the development of new technologies, business models and on creating the regulatory space for these models to encourage and facilitate innovation whilst protecting consumers to support both market development and consumer protection.

Our work explores the benefits and risks of technology and innovation across Africa and Latin America. We work to understand, map and support the various drivers for inclusive innovation, including the development of sustainable and welfare-enhancing products.

The Latest in Technology and Innovation

A decade of microinsurance innovation: promising or ‘meh’?
In October 2023, Doubell Chamberlain spoke to Rishi Raithatha about the impact that innovation and technology has had on the microinsurance market [...]
Open Finance in Africa: Designing context-appropriate approaches for the financial sector
Open Finance can be defined as the sharing of consumer data between financial service providers (FSPs) and/or third-party providers on the basis of [...]
Catalysing the use of data and digital technology for tourism in Ghana
Ghana's tourism industry presents an exciting landscape for growth, offering significant potential for youth employment and entrepreneurship. [...]
Understanding CBDC and its application in emerging markets
Central banks have cited several reasons for considering or piloting central bank digital currencies (CBDC). These include a desire to enhance [...]
Digitisation contributes to improved remittance access and a better customer experience
The Remittance Access Initiative (RAI) is a programme set up through a partnership between IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances (FFR) and [...]
Insurance regulation and innovation: An assessment of 8 African insurance markets
To support regulatory authorities in sub-Saharan Africa in promoting inclusive insurance market development, there is a need to strike a balance [...]
The potential of CBDCs for financial inclusion
Will CBDC solve your financial inclusion woes or further exclude the vulnerable?   Central bank-backed digital currency (CBDC) may alleviate [...]
Impamvu dukwiriye gushakira inyito mu Kinyarwanda amwe mu magambo y’ikoranabuhanga
Abamenyereye iby’ ikoranabuhanga cyane bazakubwira ko hari amagambo menshi usanga akoreshwa muri urwo rwego, udapfa gusanga mu kiboneza-mvugo [...]
CBDC for emerging markets: realities and expectations
Cenfri has deepened its work on CBDC amid growing interest from central banks Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) has emerged as a key [...]
Building a data skills foundation is necessary to achieve meaningful digitalisation
One of the reasons so much emphasis is placed on digitalisation is that people hope digital technology will solve common, but hereto unresolved, [...]