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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. 

Exploring insurtech
Digital Transformation & Data

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 between innovation and the accompanying risks that arise. FSD Africa set up the Risk, Resilience and Regulatory Lab (R3Lab)  as a platform for capacity-building and peer exchange to assist regulators deliver on

24 November, 2022
Resilience & Insurance

What will it take to build innovative insurance markets in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Despite the best efforts of sub-Saharan African (SSA) insurers, most African citizens and small businesses do not yet have insurance. Our recent research in eight countries – Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Malawi – shows that more than two-thirds of these populations remain without any form of

6 October, 2022
Consumer Outcomes

Making financial systems work for the lived realities of women

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

26 January, 2026
Consumer Outcomes

Looking back at 2025 and forward to 2026

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

11 December, 2025
Resilience & Insurance

Can insurance shift incentives around resilience?

“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

4 August, 2025
Resilience & Insurance

Municipal disaster-risk-finance approaches

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

6 June, 2025
Consumer Outcomes

7 Lessons from 2024

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

11 December, 2024
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Toolkit: Implementing a data-driven approach to MSME insurance

Despite their potential contribution to economic growth, MSMEs face a variety of risks that hinder their ability to operate and grow. Insurance providers play a critical role in helping MSMEs manage these risks, yet this segment remains significantly underserved. To bridge this gap, insurers must move beyond generic, one-size-fits-all products

4 December, 2024
Resilience & Insurance

Kenyans are value maximisers, not cost minimisers

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

7 November, 2024
Resilience & Insurance

The new currency in microinsurance: does data access trump client volume?

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,

9 October, 2024
Financial Inclusion

Scaling up health microinsurance in Kenya: Insights and opportunities

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

9 October, 2024