Paving the Road for Micro-Insurance in the MENA Region

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1 Egyptian Financial Supervisory Authority Paving the Road for Micro-Insurance in the MENA Region Introduction to Microinsurance Cairo, Egypt 16th December 2009 Martina Wiedmaier-Pfister German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation

Microinsurance Cairo, Egypt 16th December 2009 Martina

2 Main Messages (1) Microinsurance is a commercial business model for the low-income segment (2) Microinsurance responds to a huge unmet demand (3) Four key elements are determinants of market development (4) Challenges needs to be dealt with at all levels l of the financial i system 2

demand (3) Four key elements are determinants of market development

3 1. What is Microinsurance? Insurance for low-income households that is accessed by low-income people provided by a variety of institutions run in accordance with generally accepted Insurance Core Principles i funded by premiums What is is not? A national insurance scheme or a social programme Low level of insurance (credit card) Funded by a general loan loss provision 3

variety of institutions run in accordance with generally accepted Insurance Core Principles

4 2. Microinsurance Business Model A successful business model for microinsurance... offers affordable cover for limited risk focuses on low-cost provision builds on existing foundations sells through convenient and well-trusted delivery channels links with financial services and other services and purchases requires a large risk pool is commercially viable creates real value for clients 4

foundations sells through convenient and well-trusted delivery channels links with financial

5 3. Business Potential in Microinsurance Globally: billion low-income customers Coverage of 135 million people (5 % of current market); expansion opportunity for insurers Africa: (ILO 2009) 14.7 million people living under US$ 2 per day 10 % growth per year MENA: Young and few Microfinance Institutions Role of insurers: some pioneers Which institutions will be the market makers? 5

expansion opportunity for insurers Africa: (ILO 2009) 14.

6 6

7 4. Key Elements of Microinsurance Market Development (1) Insurance literacy and customer protection (2) Underwriting (3) Delivery (4) Policy, regulation and supervision 7

8 5. Key Element 1 Insurance literacy and customer protection Growing microinsurance markets require informed customers. Low-income households lack good experiences and trust suffer from misinformation and weak competition are not served! Literacy work requires a huge investment. Customer protection is a public task but also a cross-cutting theme which includes all stakeholders. 8

Low-income households lack good experiences and trust suffer from misinformation and weak

9 6. Key Element 2 - Underwriting Insurers operate in an unknown market and struggle with...product innovation: Most microinsurance is still compulsory Voluntary products are the challenge Product variety increasing but few good practices Africa: Life insurance (7 million credit life policies) No market and mortality and morbildity data...partnerships: catalytic role...processes: crucial for cost effectiveness 9

Product variety increasing but few good practices Africa: Life insurance (7 million credit life

10 7. Key Element 3 - Delivery Non-traditional delivery channels act as aggregators: Microfinance Institutions Trade unions, church groups, retail shops, electricity comapnies, funeral parlours Good delivery: Close to customers Staff training Marketing material 10

groups, retail shops, electricity comapnies, funeral parlours

11 8. Key Element 4 - Policy, regulation and supervision Policymakers awareness and know-how on microinsurance Regulatory and supervisory capacity Coherence among different policy areas Fiscal burden on premiums and intermediation General customer protection frameworks Financial and insurance literacy Subsidies 11

among different policy areas Fiscal burden on premiums and intermediation

12 9. Visioni A holistic approach working on all levels l of the financial system is most effective. Insurers recognise business potential Support agencies develop services Clients articulate demand Policymakers and regulators are proactive Supervisors knwo how to monitor 12

Insurers recognise business potential Support agencies develop

13 10. Challenges for insurers and intermediaries i (1) Convince your management (2) Understand demand (3) Develop innovative products and services (4) Select good partners (5) Adapt systems premium collection back-officve administration claims management, marketing (6) Keep costs low (7) Collect data 13

services (4) Select good partners (5) Adapt systems premium collection

14 11. Challenges for authorities (1) Dialogue and motivation (2) Adaptation of framework conditions (3) Sensitization of policymakers (4) Indentification of drivers 14

15 Thank you for your attention! The Initiative is a partnership between: Hosted by: To contact the Initiative see: or info@access-to-insurance.org 15

Hosted by: To contact the Initiative see: www.

What is MicroInsurance?

What is MicroInsurance? Craig Thorburn Senior Insurance Specialist, The World Bank Policy Advisory Consultant, CGAP cthorburn@worldbank.org +1 202 473 4932 or +1 202 470 6012 Skype: craig_thorburn MicroInsurance