Now reading: Resilience & Insurance

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 studiesMSME-tailored resilience solutionsimproved 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. 

Financial Inclusion

South Africa: Demand-side analysis of market for medical schemes

During the last ten years, South Africa has achieved remarkable progress in the area of financial inclusion for lower-income households in specifically the banking and, to a lesser degree, insurance markets. Limited progress has been made in expanding medical schemes (government’s chosen vehicle for private health financing) to more South

Financial Inclusion

Microinsurance innovation in South Africa

South Africa has one of the most innovative insurance markets in the world. It is also considered one of the leading microinsurance jurisdictions. Commercial insurers have reached significant penetration in the low-income market, albeit largely through funeral and credit life insurance. This 2010 study provides an update on innovative microinsurance

Financial Inclusion

The future of microinsurance regulation in South Africa

This South African National Treasury discussion paper on microinsurance sets out the proposed new approach to the regulation of microinsurance. The proposed approach seeks to balance the need for consumer protection with financial inclusion and reduce the impact of the cost of regulation on the market. It also proposes changes to the way

Financial Inclusion

Opportunities and challenges for the development of microinsurance in Ethiopia

Conducted for the International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) this Cenfri research project reviews the opportunities and challenges for microinsurance emerging from the regulatory, supply-side and demand-side characteristics of the Ethiopian microinsurance market. The purpose is to create a detailed picture of the microinsurance landscape that can serve as basis

Financial Inclusion

Making insurance markets work for the poor

To support the development of microinsurance markets a project was launched under the auspices of the International association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS)-Microinsurance Network (MIN) Joint Working Group on Microinsurance (JWGMII) aimed at mapping the experience of five developing countries – Colombia, India, the Philippines, South Africa and Uganda – where

Financial Inclusion

Making health insurance work for the low-income market in South Africa

This 2009 study identifies the main drivers of health insurance costs in South Africa, as well as strategies that could be used to reduce these costs to support the inclusion of low-income earners.   Study tour of South African branchless and mobile banking sector By request of the Pakistani Microfinance

remittance
Financial Inclusion

Zimbabwe-Johannesburg remittance corridor

Zimbabwe is heavily reliant on remittance flows from South Africa and particularly Johannesburg. As many Zimbabweans are undocumented, they cannot access formal channels for money transfers. This 2009 study was commissioned to sketch a picture of the remittances landscape in the Johannesburg-Zimbabwe corridor. The aim was to build an understanding

Financial Inclusion

Demand-side analysis of medical schemes market in South Africa

In the early 2000s, South Africa achieved remarkable progress in the area of financial inclusion for lower-income households, specifically in the banking and, to a lesser degree, insurance markets. Limited progress had been made in expanding medical schemes (government’s chosen vehicle for private health financing) to more South Africans. While