4th Inclusive Insurance Innovation Lab (iii-lab)

The 4th Inclusive Insurance Innovation Lab (iii-lab) held its final Workshop from 12-14 November virtually, bringing together participants from the three country teams – Senegal, Armenia, and Nepal.

The workshop began with an engaging session where each country team presented their prototype solutions to peers and a panel of experts, including Manoj Pandey, Monica Odhiambo, and Bert Opdebeeck. The experts offered constructive feedback and highlighted critical considerations for the implementation of the prototypes. The prototypes aim to enhance climate resilience, with Armenia focusing on a platform tailored to provide climate risk information for farmers, Nepal developing an IVR system to support rural smallholder farmers, and Senegal creating an index insurance product for fishermen. To celebrate the teams’ efforts, awards were presented for the most innovative, most collaborative, and most impactful prototypes, which were won by Armenia, Nepal, and Senegal, respectively.

On the second day, participants connected with alumni from previous labs representing Mongolia, Zambia, Ghana, India, and Morocco. The alumni shared their experiences, outlining the challenges they faced during implementation and the strategies they used to overcome them. This exchange not only provided practical insights but also boosted the confidence of the current cohort, reinforcing the importance of multistakeholder collaboration in tackling complex issues.

The final day of the workshop centred on reflecting on each country team’s ‘hero’s journey.’ Teams revisited the key challenges and milestones they had navigated over the past year, drawing parallels to the archetypal story of a hero overcoming trials and returning transformed. These reflections underscored the growth and resilience of the teams throughout their journey.

In his closing remarks, A2ii’s Executive Director, Matthias Range, commended the teams for their dedication and collaborative efforts over the past year. With the workshop concluded, the country teams are now ready to embark on the next phase: piloting their innovative solutions and bringing their prototypes to life.
 

On 29 October, the iii-lab Senegal Country team convened again in person in Dakar for the Implementation Workshop, follow by a day and a half National Ecosystem Event.  

During the preparation workshop, the country team sharpened the presentation of the prototype,made some last preparations for the Ecosystem Event and reflected on their iii-lab journey so far. As one of the country team members put it: “Changing the paradigm is more than a sentence, it is an important message. We all managed to get out of our former clothes and tried to wear new ones during the iii-lab.”

For the ecosystem event the country team had invited representatives of ministries, institutions for financial education, insurers, reinsurance companies and, bringing the strong voice of the beneficiaries to the table, several representatives from fishery associations. After the opening speech by the Director d’Assurance, Monsieur Mamadou Deme and a presentation of the prototype, a day full of discussion, knowledge sharing, listening and good Senegalese food followed. With numerous presentations the country team created an informative and productive atmosphere. As one ecosystem member that was not familiar with insurance prior to the meeting said, “This workshop has allowed me to see how important inclusive insurance is.”

After the ecosystem event, the country team had developed a clear prototype for a parametric micro-insurance product with clearly defined next steps. Apart from the important progress made with all stakeholders on this prototype, the success of the ecosystem event is underlined by one of the fisher’s representatives closing words: “We really feel we are being taken into consideration. Finally, the fishing sector is mentioned verbatim. How often the work was used struck me – we know we are ‘in’ and very proud of this workshop.”

French Version/ Version française:

Le 29 octobre 2024, l'équipe pays du iii-lab Sénégal s'est réunie pour la deuxième fois en présentiel à Dakar pour l'atelier de mise en œuvre, suivi d'un jour et demi d'événement national sur l'écosystème à l'hôtel "Fleur des Lys",  Dakar Plateau

Pour rappel, l’Equipe Pays du Sénégal est composée de plusieurs institutions (Ministère des Finances et du Budget, Ministère de l’Intérieur, Ministère de l’Agriculture et de l’Elevage, Ministère de la Famille et des Solidarités, Association des Assureurs du Sénégal, Association des Assureurs Conseils du Sénégal, Centre Professionnel de Formation à l'Assurance (CPFA),  etc.)

Au cours de l'atelier de préparation, l'équipe nationale a affiné la présentation du prototype et  a effectué les derniers préparatifs pour l'événement écosystémique sur leur parcours au sein du iii-lab jusqu'à présent. Comme l'a dit l'un des membres de l'équipe, "Changer le paradigme est plus qu'une phrase, c'est un message important.

Nous avons tous réussi à nous débarrasser de nos anciens vêtements et nous avons essayé d'en porter de nouveaux pendant le projet iii-lab.

Pour l'événement l'équipe nationale avait invité Sen Re (le réassureur national) et plusieurs représentants d'associations de pêche de Dakar pour faire entendre la voix forte des bénéficiaires.  Après le discours de Monsieur Adama NDIAYE, Directeur Général de la SEN Ré et ancien Président de la FANAF, Monsieur Mamadou DEME, Directeur des Assurances  du Ministère des Finances & du Budget a procédé à l’ouverture de l’atelier.

Par la suite, une présentation du prototype a été faite. La journée était pleine de discussions, de renforcement des capacités, d'échanges et de débats avec un excellent déjeuner sur le toit de l'hôtel 'Fleur des Lys' @Plateau Dakar.

Avec de nombreuses présentations, l'équipe nationale a créé une atmosphère informative et productive. Ou comme l'a dit un membre de l'écosystème qui n'était pas familier avec l'assurance avant la réunion : Cet atelier m'a permis de voir à quel point l'assurance est une bonne chose.

Après la réunion de l'écosystème, l'équipe nationale a développé un prototype clair pour un produit de micro-assurance basé sur un indice pour les pêcheurs  artisanaux avec des étapes clairement définies. Outre les progrès importants réalisés avec toutes les parties prenantes sur ce prototype, le succès de l'événement de l'écosystème est souligné par l'un des représentants des pêcheurs : "Nous avons vraiment l'impression d'être pris en considération. Enfin, le secteur de la pêche est mentionné mot pour mot: nous savons que nous sommes "dans le coup" et nous sommes très fiers de cet atelier.

Monsieur Mor Ngom, Commissaire-Contôleur à la Direction des Assurances et chef de l’équipe pays a procédé à la clôture des trois jours de travaux.

On 9 October, the final national workshop under the fourth A2ii Inclusive Insurance Innovation Lab (iii-lab) took place in Yerevan.

The event focused on the implementation and roll-out of their innovative solution, the ARMAGRO platform. ARMAGRO is a digital platform designed to support Armenian farmers by providing timely information about climate conditions, agriculture insurance options, and best practices to reduce the risks to their crops and livelihoods.

During the workshop, the team organised a panel discussion on the main trends in climate change in Armenia and its impact on the agricultural sector, and presented their developed prototype to key stakeholders, including representatives from the government, agriculture associations, and the insurance sector. The team received feedback to fine-tune the platform and ensure its relevance and usability for the farmers who will benefit from it.

 

The second National Workshop and Ecosystem Event for Nepal under the Inclusive Innovation Insurance Lab (iii-lab) took place from 24 to 25 September at the Park Village Resort, Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu.

 The National Workshop, attended by the Nepal iii-lab team, served as a coaching session to help further develop their Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS), which aims to raise awareness among farmers, especially in remote areas, about agricultural climate risk insurance. The team provided updates on the IVRS and discussed key aspects such as the platform provider, content, features, and strategies for increasing farmer engagement.

The session also helped the team finalize their presentation for the Ecosystem Event, with support from A2ii and ReosPartners to sharpen their message for key stakeholders.

The Ecosystem Event took place on the morning of 25 September, with over 40 participants, including representatives from government ministries, the insurance sector, and local and international development organizations involved in agricultural insurance. Opening remarks were delivered by Director Pujan Dhungel Adhikari (NIA), Dr. Till Ludwig (GIZ Nepal), and Mr. Ronnie Limbago (A2ii). Ms. Rachel Jones (ReosPartners) gave a brief overview of the iii-lab and the 10-month journey of the participating countries.

Team Nepal then presented their IVRS, focusing on the challenges farmers face due to climate risks, the concept and features of the IVRS, and a simulation of how it works. Stakeholders provided feedback in group sessions, discussing the value of the IVRS, possible improvements, and how it aligns with their priorities. This feedback will guide the further development of the IVRS.

The event concluded with remarks from Mr. Surya Prasad Silwal, Chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority, who thanked A2ii and ReosPartners for their support and expressed strong backing for the IVRS, encouraging other stakeholders to support the initiative.

Armenia is at the forefront of developing inclusive insurance solutions for its agricultural sector. A recent study involving over 130 farmers across the country revealed that while 90% experienced crop damage due to environmental factors, only 29% had insurance coverage despite available subsidies.
 

To address this critical gap, a prototype called ArmAgro is being developed as part of the iii-lab initiative. This web-based platform aims to:
💡Enhance farmers' knowledge of climate-smart agricultural practices through collaboration with Armenian universities and innovation hubs.
💡Raise awareness about the benefits of insurance coverage.
💡Foster a new generation of resilient farmers.
 

Nepal faces challenges in providing adequate insurance coverage for its farmers. Initial interviews involving 26 farmers cultivating primarily cereals and vegetables revealed that while these crops are vital to the nation's agriculture, insurance products are predominantly focused on cattle. This gap is attributed to a lack of understanding about crop insurance and affordability concerns.
 

In response, the iii-lab team from Nepal are developing the following innovative solutions: 

1. 💡 Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS): This phone-based system will provide farmers with standardised information on climate risks and crop insurance options in their local language.

2. 💡Product Development Exploration: The team is exploring two options:

• An index-based agricultural insurance product leveraging satellite technology
• Bundled insurance products to increase the value added for farmers

By addressing these challenges, Nepal is laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector.

Senegal’s rich fishing industry is a cornerstone of its economy and culture. Recognising the vulnerability of fishers to adverse weather conditions, the iii-lab country team is proposing an innovative index insurance product to protect their income.

To implement this solution, they are concentrating on three key areas:
💡Technology Integration: Introducing geolocation services and devices to accurately monitor weather conditions and fishing activities.
💡Public-Private Partnership: Establishing a collaborative framework involving government, private sector, and fishers, including training and financial literacy programs.
💡Effective Communication: Enhancing information sharing through the involvement of NGOs, technical and financial partners, and fishermen's organisations.

By combining these elements, Senegal aims to create a robust and inclusive insurance product that safeguards the livelihoods of its fishermen.

Current and past iii-lab participants landed in Frankfurt for the iii-lab international incubator event which kicked off, bringing together alumni from labs 1-3 with current lab 4 participants for the first time. After a welcome activity, teams from lab 4 participated in a joint Lego-building session designed to highlight the importance of collaboration.

The opening session included welcoming words from Peter Braumüller, Chair of the A2ii Governing Council, Angelika Frei-Oldenburg, Head of Sustainable Economic and Financial System Transformation Cluster at GIZ, and Teresa Pelanda, A2ii iii-lab project manager.

Following was an alumni stories panel with representatives from Labs 1-3 from Argentina, Costa Rica, Grenada, Kenya, Morocco, and Zimbabwe, who shared their experience with the lab, the results of their prototypes, and advice with current lab participants and invited guests. Then, each alumni hosted a “learning circle” in small groups discussing topics such as:  

💡 Private sector and industry collaboration

💡 Role of supervisors working

💡 How do you develop a model product?

💡 Focusing on beneficiaries and human-centred design (the ResilientME! game)

On the third day, alumni acted as coaches for the current country teams from Armenia, Nepal, and Senegal, helping them to refine their prototype ideas as they worked in groups and prepared their presentations for a “Dragon's Den” style pitching session to a panel of four experts - Laura Schäfer, Matthias Range, Martina Wiedmaier-Pfister, and Manoj Pandey.

This international incubator event has allowed lab participants and alumni to continue to build the lab community, support each other, and learn from each other. As one alumni said, “It is notable that, despite cultural, linguistical and regional differences, there is a common focus on identifying needs, developing innovative solutions and protecting vulnerable populations through insurance education and the creation of affordable, accessible and sustainable products.”

Coming up next, the implementation process will begin, wherein country teams will start experimenting, testing and implementing the newly developed prototypes in the real world. They will each have a national in-person ecosystem event to present their prototype to the wider national ecosystem, and international sessions will be held where they will receive feedback from their peers.

The international cohort of the fourth A2ii Inclusive Insurance Innovation Lab (iii-lab) has successfully concluded the discovery phrase, the first of three phases in the lab process. 

Building on the momentum generated by national workshops held in February, each of the country teams from Armenia, Nepal, and Senegal engaged in extensive interviews with their target groups in the agricultural sector, mostly farmers and fishers, in order to identify the main challenges these groups are facing in the light of climate change. 

These interviews were the basis for discussions during the international calls. Each country presented a creative Pecha-Kucha presentation, not only providing some insight on their rich cultural heritage but also diving into the state of insurance and climate risk within their respective jurisdictions. As they presented their findings, similarities and unique nuances among stakeholder perspectives emerged.

The interviews underscored a pervasive lack of trust in and understanding of insurance benefits among agricultural communities. Furthermore, there was an awareness of the immediate impacts of climate change on livelihoods across all regions, as encapsulated by an interviewee from Nepal: “As per my estimation, climate change has decreased my production by roughly 20%”.

However, distinct differences also surfaced: Senegal emphasised the importance of in-person distribution channels, while Nepal identified significant potential in digital distribution platforms. Armenia highlighted opportunities in leveraging smart farming appliances for data collection and greater resilience.
 

The interviews catalysed a shift in perceptions and prompted new inquiries, such as:

• how to ensure the livelihoods of rural populations beyond traditional farming or fishing occupations,

• how to deliver innovation effectively, and

• how to address the specific needs of vulnerable groups. 

As teams transition into the innovation phase, each country team will leverage the insights gained from this collaborative exchange to propel their respective initiatives forward. The stage is set for further collaboration and refinement as teams will convene in-person at the end of July.
 

The A2ii Inclusive Insurance Innovation Lab (iii-lab) successfully held its first national workshop in Armenia over two dynamic days, 13 and 14 March, hosted at the Central Bank in Yerevan. Esteemed speakers including Mr Hovhannes Khachatryan, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia, Katrin Buder-Pelz, Head of German Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, and Madeleine Rauschenberger, Country Director for GIZ Armenia, marked the opening with insightful remarks.

The workshop brought together a diverse multi-stakeholder team from the Central Bank of Armenia, various ministries, the industry sector, academia, and civil society. The participants engaged in fruitful discussions about the current landscape of inclusive insurance in Armenia and explored innovative opportunities for enhancing climate resilience through the lab process.

In response to the pressing challenges posed by climate change, the country team pinpointed the agricultural sector and low-income populations as critical areas of focus. The team committed to raising insurance awareness and capitalising on Armenia's advanced digital landscape. They also underscored the vital role of incorporating feedback from the demand side into the innovation process. 

The 4th iii-lab is a 12-month journey where teams from Armenia, Nepal and Senegal, consisting of key stakeholders from the insurance sector, are collaborating on innovative insurance solutions to increase resilience against the impact of climate change. For more information on the iii-lab, click here.

The inaugural National Workshop of the 4th iii-lab for Nepal was held in Kathmandu on 28-29 February. Mr Raju Raman Paudel, the Executive Director of the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA), and Ms Paulina Campos, GIZ Nepal Deputy Country Director, inaugurated the workshop.

Various stakeholders from the agriculture insurance sector, including regulators, insurance and reinsurance entities, InsurTech companies, a national farmers’ cooperative, the country’s climate and disaster risk reduction and management authority, and international organizations attended the workshop.

During the two-day event, participants exchanged ideas on climate change impacts on Nepali agriculture and discussed potential solutions to address farmers' protection issues. Parametric insurance was a focal point, with recognition of existing challenges in convincing stakeholders, including farmers, of its value in enhancing agricultural sector resilience. Despite skepticism, the team remains committed to finding solutions.

Following the workshop, the team agreed to focus on specific sectors such as rice, grains, maize, and other vegetables, conducting interviews with farmers and stakeholders in these sectors. Subsequent lab meetings will determine the sector of focus and the geographical location for pilot efforts.

Mr Surya Prasad Silwal, Chairman of the Nepal Insurance Authority, formally closed the workshop. In his closing remarks, Mr Silwal expressed gratitude to A2ii for including Nepal in the 4th edition of the lab and expressed confidence in the team's output, anticipating it would serve as a replicable model for other agriculture centers in Nepal.

On 14-15 February, the first national workshop of the 4th iii-lab took place in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. The workshop was opened with remarks by Mr Mamadou Deme, Director of Insurance at the Ministry of Finance and Budget of Senegal, and Mr Rogier Hekking, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands.

The two days were filled with both concentrated discussion and personal exchanges within the national multi-stakeholder team, consisting of representatives from ministries, including the insurance regulator, brokers, industry, consumer associations, civil society, and international organisations.

The participants not only brought their diverse institutional backgrounds and knowledge to the table, but shared their unique perspective on the impact of climate change and the various ways inclusive insurance can protect the most vulnerable segments of the population. As one of the lab participants put it, “In 10 years, maybe we can say that we were an important part of creating the protection that everyone can have in Senegal today.”

To address the impact of climate change in Senegal, the group decided on an initial focus on the vulnerable segments of the population such as smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, and garbage collectors. They also chose to include a gender focus and examine how insurance regulation can support innovative and inclusive solutions to increasing resilience. Following the workshop, the national team will split into smaller working groups to map the stakeholder landscape and use interviews to further define the scope of their project.

Congratulations to all three selected country teams from Armenia, Nepal and Senegal! 

Each multistakeholder country team will be embarking on a one-year journey to develop innovative solutions to increase resilience of the most vulnerable segments in their societies against the impacts of climate change. 

In the coming weeks, insurance supervisors from the three selected countries will start the convening process to put together their multistakeholder country teams. In early 2024, the teams will come together for the first iii-lab workshops to develop innovative solutions guided by the question: How can you innovate for achieving climate resilience in your jurisdiction?   

Once again, we are happy to partner with Reos Partners for the facilitation of the programme.  

See the announcement on LinkedIn.