Deadline approaching for submitting proposal for the 8th International Microinsurance Conference 2012
The deadline for submitting proposal for the 8th International Microinsurance Conference is fast approaching. All proposals must be submitted by the 15 May 2012.
The conference will be held from 6 to 8 November 2012 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the organisers are calling for proposals on the following themes:
- Case studies of innovative and viable client-centred microinsurance solutions;
- Thematic issues (experience with cooperative and mutual insurers, providing health insurance to the poor, technology to achieve scale and efficiency, failures in microinsurance, consumer protection, agricultural microinsurance);
- Scientific track – Economic analysis of microinsurance markets;
- Microinsurance training sessions.
More information
Need specific country related microinsurance information? Consult the new Country Information Database
The Country Information Database is a collection of documents that contain microinsurance information on specific regions and countries throughout the world. The aim is to facilitate the search for country specific information on microinsurance by pulling together these documents in one place.
The database was created in response to the many requests received relating to specific country information and data. The list of over 200 publications is searchable by region, country, topic, language and type of document.
Country Information Database
Invitation to a Microinsurance Breakfast in Paris
In the context of the Microinsurance Awareness Season, CGAP and Grameen Crédit Agricole invite you to a breakfast on the 10 May to discuss the challenges and the evolution of the microinsurance sector. This event will also be the occasion to present the 2nd edition of the Microinsurance Compendium. Michal Matul and Eric Gerelle, two of the authors, will be there to discuss the supply and demand of microinsurance products.
This event will take place at Auditorium Amundi in Paris from 9h00 to 10h30. To register, send an email to Zoë Gardner before the 27 April 2012.
See invitation (in French only)
2nd edition of the Handbook on Performance Indicators in Microinsurance is available in French and Spanish
The Performance Working Group of the Microinsurance Network, with the support of ADA and BRS, has published an updated version of the Performance Indicators for Microinsurance handbook, which is available in English, French and Spanish. Given the volume of feedback from participants in subsequent workshops and from experts, it became important to publish a second and improved version.
 This version provides more examples, uses better data for illustrating each indicator, categorises the principles and indicators, elaborates on a number of concepts such as asset-liability matching, and has an expanded glossary of terms. Finally, index-based and Takaful insurance are included with some guidance on how the principles and indicators may be adapted for these types of programmes.
For more information on the initiative, including the handbook, factsheet and workshops, please visit Microfact website.
Download handbook: (English) (Français) (Español)
Video from the 2012 Research Conference on Microinsurance
In this video, Karlijn Morsink, who works at the University of Twente and is the facilitator of the Network's Academics Discussion Group, introduces the objectives of the 2012 Research Conference on Microinsurance. The conference aims to provide a platform for academic discussions among researchers from different disciplines and all parts of the world.
Included in the video is H.R.H. Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, who opened the conference as United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate on 'Inclusive Finance for Development'.
View video
Protecting the poor: A microinsurance compendium - Volume II
Churchill, Craig (ed.), ILO and Munich Re Foundation, 2012
The second volume of this publication examines the recent developments and achievements of the microinsurance sector by bringing together the latest thinking of leading academics, actuaries, and insurance and development professionals in the microinsurance field.
Since the publication of the first edition, the landscape of microinsurance has changed enormously. With almost 500 million people now covered by microinsurance, the book discusses the main trends and evolution of the sector while also considering where it currently stands from a global point of view. The focus of the book is on how insurance products and services can successfully tackle the needs of low-income populations and help to reduce their vulnerability.
Essential reading for insurance professionals, practitioners and anyone involved with offering insurance services to low-income persons, the second volume covers many of the new challenges faced by stakeholders in the sector. These include the potential impact of microinsurance, consumer education and client value, designing products for specific target groups, distribution and intermediation, price with limited data, conducive regulations and appropriate consumer protection, and innovations in technology.
Download publication
Climate change and microinsurance – Summary of the online discussion
The main points brought up during an online discussion entitled “Microinsurance debate: Climate change and microinsurance" have been summarised in an article written by Roland Steinmann, who facilitated the discussion and authored the paper "Climate Change: A Microinsurance Perspective".
Read article
Microinsurance Trilogy N°26 - Spring 2012 edition available
The spring edition of the Network's Microinsurance Trilogy newsletter focuses on social performance in microinsurance. The increasing emphasis on client value and the need to examine products from the clients' perspective, have raised the awareness of social performance in microinsurance.
The first article examines social performance from a more general point of view, detailing some of the initiatives that are ongoing. This is followed by an article that focuses on the testing of the social performance indicators identified by the Performance Working Group of the Microinsurance Network.
Download newsletter: (English) (Français) (Español)
New publication: Donors and Microinsurance
Marquez; Paola Romero, Lisa Chassin, Microinsurance Network, 2012
The role of donors in the development of microinsurance has been crucial from the very beginning. Donors have always been one of the most important stakeholders, and continue to play a vital role in furthering the understanding of what is required to promote effective microinsurance services.
This study examines the various aspects of donor’s involvement in an attempt to offer an overview of their role and significance in the sector. These include the reasons for involvement, the geographical areas of projects, the type of in-house microinsurance expertise they possess, their mode of intervention and their preferred distribution models. Furthermore, a few examples of donor collaborations are included in the study to illustrate current activities.
Download study or press release
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 (<a href='/publication/fichier/KPI_MI_Handbook_v2_FR.pdf?PHPSESSID=71b39ab3b6e2a66f1d1cb4e3c6546e3f' target='_blank'>Français</a>) (<a href='/publication/fichier/KPI_MI_Handbook_v2_SP.pdf?PHPSESSID=71b39ab3b6e2a66f1d1cb4e3c6546e3f' target='_blank'>Español</a>)</p>){kind=link}
, ILO and Munich Re Foundation, 2012</p>
<p>The second volume of this publication examines the recent developments and achievements of the microinsurance sector by bringing together the latest thinking of leading academics, actuaries, and insurance and development professionals in the microinsurance field.</p>
<p>Since the publication of the first edition, the landscape of microinsurance has changed enormously. With almost 500 million people now covered by microinsurance, the book discusses the main trends and evolution of the sector while also considering where it currently stands from a global point of view. The focus of the book is on how insurance products and services can successfully tackle the needs of low-income populations and help to reduce their vulnerability.</p>
<p><a href='/publication/fichier/MicroinsuranceCompendium_VolII.pdf?PHPSESSID=71b39ab3b6e2a66f1d1cb4e3c6546e3f' target='_blank'><img style='float: right; border-image: initial; border-width: 0px; border-color: black; border-style: solid; margin: 4px;' title='Protecting the poor: A microinsurance compendium - Volume II' src='/image/MICompendium_VolII.jpg' alt='Protecting the poor: A microinsurance compendium - Volume II' width='110' height='164' /></a></p>
<p>Essential reading for insurance professionals, practitioners and anyone involved with offering insurance services to low-income persons, the second volume covers many of the new challenges faced by stakeholders in the sector. These include the potential impact of microinsurance, consumer education and client value, designing products for specific target groups, distribution and intermediation, price with limited data, conducive regulations and appropriate consumer protection, and innovations in technology.</p>
<p><a href='/publication/fichier/MicroinsuranceCompendium_VolII.pdf?PHPSESSID=71b39ab3b6e2a66f1d1cb4e3c6546e3f' target='_blank'>Download publication</a></p>){kind=link}
