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The Myths and Realities of Inclusive Insurance: Lessons from the Field
Across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), insurance penetration is around 1% of GDP, compared to a global average of around 7%. According to Rehan Butt at Instaful Solutions, policymakers, donors and insurers have increasingly turned to “inclusive insurance” to reach LMIC customers — yet they often mistakenly approach it as a scaled down or charitable version of traditional insurance. He argues that inclusive insurance represents a fundamentally different business model, with distinct product design, processes, distribution and economics, and highlights some misconceptions that can cause these insurance products and programs to underperform.
- Categories
- Finance
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Analysis: Smartphones, Women’s Rights and Coupons: New Trends That Can Boost Insurance for African Farmers
Storms, drought, floods and heatwaves are a disaster for small scale farmers in Africa, who can’t all afford insurance. Yet new, technologically advanced and cheaper types of agricultural insurance exist and could be rolled out across Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Protecting Solar Investments In South Africa Amid Increasing Hailstorms
Solar panels are naturally vulnerable to these impacts. Even if a panel does not visibly break during a hailstorm, microfractures can occur, reducing power output and shortening the lifespan of the system.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Building the Financial Services Stack of the Future: Why True Resilience Requires a More Holistic Approach
Over the last decade, financial inclusion has experienced unprecedented progress, as 79% of adults globally now have a financial account compared to 62% 10 years ago. But according to Payal Dalal at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, most financial inclusion initiatives are still organized around verticals like loans, savings and insurance, and delivered through separate providers and channels, which forces customers to piece them together into a comprehensive safety net or growth path. She argues that the financial services stack of the future must address this lack of integration, delivering solutions that meet multiple financial needs simultaneously — while responding to the growing headwinds that individuals and entrepreneurs face today.
- Categories
- Finance
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RADIANT YACU of Rwanda Wins European Microfinance Award 2025
"RADIANT YACU’s model bundles affordable hospital cash and funeral cover with microfinance services, leveraging group structures to make enrolment simple and premiums sustainable."
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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A New Green Revolution in Indian Agriculture: How Satellite Remote Sensing is Quietly Transforming the Sector
Satellite remote sensing involves the use of satellite-based sensors to capture data about the earth’s surface. According to Sat Kumar Tomer at Satyukt Analytics, this technology is increasingly being used by Indian farmers and the businesses and organizations that serve them, generating data on vegetation health, soil moisture, irrigation patterns and other key drivers of agricultural productivity. He explores how satellite remote sensing is enabling a data-driven revolution in Indian agriculture, and how the sector can overcome barriers to wider adoption.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment, Finance, Technology
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Beyond Affordability: Behavioural Barriers to Uptake of Inclusive Insurance
". . .e-MFP’s own Sam Mendelson explains the mental models that make insurance such a hard ‘sell’, and what behavioural insights teach us about how to increase access and uptake."
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Global
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Unlocking the Investment Potential of Healthcare in Emerging Markets: How New Technologies, Platform Models and Financing Options are Driving Growth
There is a growing need for new sources of healthcare funding in emerging markets: For instance, Africa accounts for around 2% of global health expenditure — despite representing over 18% of the world’s population and over 20% of the global disease burden. As investor Temi Marcella argues, this disparity presents unique opportunities for investors seeking both profit and impact. She explores how investors can unlock the full potential of healthcare investments in these markets by supporting businesses’ efforts to leverage digital health ecosystems, platform strategies and innovative financing solutions.
- Categories
- Finance, Health Care, Investing, Technology
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