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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 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. 

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

Webinar: Building the resilience of MSMEs in Uganda - Insights for the financial sector
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Holistic risk solutions for MSME resilience in Egypt

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Egypt Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a fundamental role in the Egyptian economy – they drive more than 80% of GDP growth and 40% of total employment – but they face considerable risks that hinder their ability to thrive. Insurance could bolster

Nairobi, Kenya - February 6, 2014: Ripe fruits stacked at a local fruit and vegetable market on February 6, 2014. Nairobi, Kenya. The market is frequently visited by locals and tourists.
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Private sector partnerships for MSME resilience: Learnings from Africa

Opportunities await insurers and tech providers who are willing to work together Insurance is a key tool that provides businesses with protection and resilience against risks and that enables them to better bounce back from shocks experienced. However – despite its potential positive impact – micro, small and medium enterprises

African Fintech Radar
Resilience & Insurance

Insurance Innovation Dialogue

About the Insurance Innovation Dialogue  To support insurance regulatory authorities in sub-Saharan Africa strike a balance between innovation and risk, FSD Africa set up the R3LAb as a platform for capacity building and peer exchange among regulators. In this process, FSD Africa partnered with Cenfri to conduct a study that

Resilience & Insurance

Insurance supervisors’ responses to COVID-19

Importance of insurance amplified by COVID-19 pandemic  The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes one of the largest recent shocks to the African continent and has amplified the importance of the insurance sector’s role in development and supporting the resilience of businesses and individuals. Insurance can help manage risks and transfer funds to

MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

The role of different partners for effective MSME insurance

Insurers can partner with digital platforms, lenders and insurance aggregators to offer better products that matter for MSMEs.   Despite being heavily underfinanced, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are critical drivers of economic growth and contribute substantially to employment and innovation. They account for 50% of global employment and 90%

Unlocking the digital economy in Senegal
Resilience & Insurance

The role of women and finance in climate action

A changing climate affects everyone, but it’s the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, predominantly women and girls, who bear the brunt of environmental, economic and social shocks (IPCC, 2022a). For example, figures from the United Nations show that 80% of people displaced by climate change are women (Halton, 2018). There

Understanding insurance distribution and automation in Africa
Resilience & Insurance

Understanding insurance distribution and automation in Africa

Limited digitalisation of the insurance sector in Africa constrains uptake. Less than 10% of adults across nine sub-Saharan African countries have private insurance. The low uptake is in part due to high delivery costs and low levels of digitalisation. African insurers, banks and brokers typically rely on manual processes for selling

Bridging the MSME identification gap
MSMEs, Ecosystems & Economic Opportunity

Insurance for MSMEs

The GIZ Compendium on how to improve insurance for MSMEs in a number of countries.  The work compiled in this compendium includes knowledge-building products, training concepts for MSMEs and the insurance industry as well as innovative approaches to design and deliver insurance and risk management services to MSMEs.