mia
Helping communities manage risks from the ground up
micro insurance academy
March 2010 mia
micro insurance academy
Who we are: The Micro Insurance Academy (MIA), a project of Sarvajan Unnati Bodhini Charitable Trust, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing technical assistance in microinsurance domain-knowledge to organizations that focus on low-income communities. With over 40 professionals including researchers, training specialists and development experts, the MIA is the largest microinsurance resource center globally. In order to integrate microinsurance with existing financial and social protection frameworks, the MIA works in liaison with partners from civil society, academia, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, the (re)insurance industry and national governments in several regions of the world. We have developed a model that empowers poor communities to access and manage financial risks through tailored insurance solutions that match people's needs and ability to pay. We do this through a process that the beneficiaries understand, trust and take responsibility for. In a nutshell, we're all about “helping communities manage risks from the ground up�. 1
What we do: We carry out research, provide structured technical assistance to existing and new microinsurance units (MIUs), conduct specialist trainings, provide advisory services and engage in advocacy in a variety of areas linked to the development of the microinsurance sector internationally.
Research Often insurance providers shy away from offering microinsurance in developing countries due to the lack of reliable data. A major part of our work is to help overcome this challenge and collect data through rigorous qualitative and quantitative baseline and endline surveys. The analysis of this data allows us to design microinsurance packages that match supply and solvent demand to local needs and willingness to pay. Our research work also provides us with a solid basis for monitoring and evaluation and impact assessment based on empirical data, as well as leads to the production of innovative training and implementation materials. n The MIA
is a partner in a number of international research consortia. We are focusing on ways to upscale demand for health insurance and improve health care options; we are measuring the impact of community based micro health insurance and developing dedicated impact assessment methodologies.
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n Based
on large-scale comparative household surveys carried out across 8 states in India and Nepal since 2005, we have authored numerous ground-breaking publications related to microinsurance, willingness-to-pay, and health care expenditures – all freely available on our website at http://www.microinsuranceacademy.org/publications
Structured Technical Assistance Our research work enables us to develop innovative, interactive, and practical training modules to provide communities with the necessary knowledge and skills to create and administer their own Micro Insurance Units (MIUs). To accomplish this we work in close collaboration with our local partners. The MIA and its partners are pioneering innovations across a number of areas: we reengineer affiliation, premium collection, claims processing and sustainability mechanisms to match the local context and existing ground structures. To complete technical assistance we design and implement practical tools such as participatory Training of Trainer (TOT) programmes, management information systems (MIS) and ground administration infrastructure.To further strengthen the MIUs, we facilitate access to reinsurance as well as linkages to government-led schemes. To date, we have assisted community-based microinsurance projects across three Indian states (Bihar, Orissa, and Uttar Pradesh) and in Nepal (Banke and Dhading districts). The consolidated learning
from this first wave of projects will pave the way for scaling up implementation activities in South Asia and much beyond.
Training In addition to the set of training modules and TOT manuals integral to our structured technical assistance work, we also provide specific training sessions on microinsurance, both public and on-demand. Examples include: n Annually, the MIA presents the world's only
Reinsurance School for Microinsurance Schemes, a unique 3-day international seminar which explains how reinsurance provides protection and strengthens sustainability for microinsurance schemes. n A range of custom-built trainings and workshops for organizations wishing to build their capacity in the area of microinsurance.
Advocacy As part of our global efforts to promote the value proposition of microinsurance, the MIA actively contributes to the work of the Micro Insurance Network (MiN), of which we are a founding member. n The MIA leads two MiN Working Groups
(MiN WG), one focusing on Impact Assessment and the other on Insurance Education. We are also active members of other WGs, which look at issues such as
Regulation, Supervision and Policy (RSP), Technology and Social Protection.
Advisory Services We have a wealth of experience and expertise in micro insurance, as well as excellent access to grassroots organizations. We have the technical know-how and the analytical ability to conduct diverse studies on microinsurance. As such, we are uniquely placed to advise on a wide range of issues and policies relating to microinsurance. Some examples of our recent advisory services assignments include: n Assisting the Government of Meghalaya and the
International Fund of Agriculture and Development (IFAD) in the development of a strategy for composite microinsurance (livestock, health, life) for rural communities. n Carrying out a mid-term review of a posttsunami microinsurance initiative of CARE and Allianz SE. n Conducting an assessment of the potential for microinsurance in Fiji for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). n Advising the Central Tibetan Authority on the establishment of a holistic Tibetan Medicare System for the Tibetan population in India and Nepal. n Conducting a multi-country (Bangladesh, China and Vietnam) study on the potential for enterprise-based microinsurance for a publicprivate-partnership consortium.
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Where we work: NEPAL INDIA
HIMACHAL PRADESH
CHINA BANGLADESH VIETNAM CAMBODIA
UTTARAKHAND NE ARUNACHAL BANKE PAL SIKKIM PRADESH DHANDI NG UTTAR PRADESH BIHAR
RAJASTHAN
FIJI
MEGHALAYA MADHYA PRADESH
MAHARASHTRA
ORISSA
ANDHRA PRADESH KARNATAKA TAMIL NADU
RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION ADVISORY SERVICES
Few among our latest studies: Financial Inclusion Opportunities for Micro Health Insurance in Nepal-An Exploratory Analysis of Health Incidence, Costs and Willingness to Pay in Dhading and Banke Districts of Nepal, The Micro Insurance Academy & Save the Children, Feb 2010. D M Dror and R Radermacher (eds.); S Srivastava,A Majumdar, J Roberts Singh Microinsurance: Innovations In Low-Cost Health Insurance, D M Dror, R Radermacher, S B Khadilkar, P Schout, F-X Hay,A Singh and R Koren, in Health Affairs, 28, no. 6 (2009): 1788-1798 Incidence of Illness among Resource-Poor Households: Evidence from Five Locations in India. D M Dror, van Putten, R Rademaker, R Koren, in Indian Journal for Medical Research (New Delhi), Vol. 127, pp. 343-357, April 2008 Bad luck vs. self-inflicted neediness - An experimental investigation of gift giving in a solidarity game, N Trhal, R Radermacher, Journal of Economic Psychology, Vol. 30, 2009, pp. 517-526. Visit our website to download freely all our publications 4
For more information please contact: Micro Insurance Academy 246 Sant Nagar, East of Kailash New Delhi-110 065, India Phone: +91 11 43799100 Fax: +91 11 43799117 Email: mia@mia.org.in www.microinsuranceacademy.org