Rationale

Rwanda has a very low insurance penetration, and current activities of the insurance industry tend to be targeted towards higher income population segments. Studies have revealed that the insurance sector in Rwanda is underdeveloped and, as in a majority of African markets, remains concentrated on traditional and corporate insurance.

Regardless of the low penetration rate, there are a number of licenced insurance companies and public insurers active in Rwanda. Most of the conventional insurance products are delivered by the insurance companies themselves, or through traditional brokers and agents, to corporate and high-income individual clients. Pilots in microinsurance have since opened up the distribution space, and now include non-traditional players such as microfinance institutions (MFIs), mobile network operators (MNOs), and agricultural cooperatives.  

Although trainings on microinsurance have been incidentally offered in the country in the past, there are no continuous programmes offered on how to improve skills in inclusive insurance and using it to the benefit of the low-income population.

Purpose

The partnership between the Facility and Access to Finance Rwanda aims to develop the capacity of the insurance industry to provide better insurance products for the working poor, products that promote financial inclusion and productivity. The capacity-building activities under this project will enable the insurance industry to create innovative mechanisms to distribute inclusive insurance products and to reduce the vulnerability of low-income workers.

Activities

Under the partnership, the following activities will be carried out: 

• Support the Rwanda Insurers’ Association (ASSAR) to strengthen its capacity to deliver insurance education
• Build the capacity of the insurance industry, financial service providers and distribution channels in inclusive insurance
• Train local trainers to guarantee the sustainability of training programmes in the local market