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MicroInsurance in Uganda: A Case Study of an Example of the Partner-Agent Model of MicroInsurance Provision

Posted on by MSC

This study reviews the Partner-Agent Model supporting the relationship between FU and NHHP. It presents an understanding of the mechanisms and practicalities of the model, as well as the satisfaction level of the partners and the market.

It studies a health financing product provided by a hospital with an MFI in Uganda. Benefits and problems are identified, thus aiding in the identification of further potential applications. Additionally, this paper reviews the process by which the product was developed, tested, and implemented to provide information on the process itself and to identify issues in the product cycle. It also attempts to understand the institutional impact such as impact on HR, operations, and marketing systems after the introduction of the product.

Health is Wealth: How Low-Income People Finance Health Care

Posted on by MSC

The Health Care Financing project seeks to harness the research and product development capabilities of the K-Rep Development Agency, the experience of AAR Health Services in health care financing, management and provision, and the community-based, low-cost health centres of AAR franchisees. Working together, the consortium members offer important opportunities to capture synergies that will allow its members to develop their businesses while providing one of the most important and sought after services to low-income households in both urban and rural settings. The project brings together this diverse consortium to develop and test an innovative, private sector driven, commercially viable and replicable health financing scheme to reach low-income groups comprising four products.

This study was undertaken as the first step to this on-going collaboration designed to develop a low-cost health financing package for low-income people. Extensive background and secondary data searches (physical and internet-based) were conducted in order to identify data and ensure that the health financing product would be developed on the basis of the latest thinking/information. Research was conducted to understand low income people’s health needs and health finance/management mechanisms. The tools used were Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) adapted from the MicroSave-Africa approach to “Market Research for MicroFinance”.

A Comparative Analysis of Member-Based Microfinance Institutions In East And West Africa

Posted on by MSC

Compares user-owned or ”common-bond” MFIs in West and East Africa with special emphasis on the savings services they provide. The Caisses Mutuel and the Caisses Villegoises of West Africa are recognised internationally as successful MFIs operating in some of the most difficult environments. In addition, many of these West African MFIs have been delivering savings services to their clients as an integral part of their systems. At the same time, the vast majority of financial services for the poor in East Africa are provided by Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) or Credit Unions, but the work, capabilities, strengths and weaknesses of these remains largely unexplored and poorly documented. This report is also available in French.

Principles and Practice: Myths of Regulation and Supervision

Posted on by MSC

This document looks at the issues surrounding regulation and supervision of MFIs seeking to offer savings services and insurance services. The article highlights the convention required by central banks to design and administer regulation and external supervision systems under which MFIs operate in order to offer state-backed deposit insurance.

The paper outlines theoretical framework within which regulation and supervision has traditionally been conceptualised. It examines the short-comings of conventional approaches and looks at what happens when theory collides with practice. It also looks at some of the alternatives that have been proposed by microfinance specialists thinking beyond the conventional approaches, and why these approaches are important for poor around the world.

The paper concludes with a personal view on how different types of MFIs might be supervised.

Necessity as the Mother of Invention How Poor People Protect Themselves Against Risk

Posted on by MSC

Examines the risks facing the poor and their vulnerability to those risks before going on to examine the various systems and mechanisms that poor people use to protect themselves against these risks.

Use and Impact of Savings Services among the Poor in Tanzania

Posted on by MSC

The report focuses on the savings practices of poor people in Tanzania. It examines the perceived advantages and disadvantages of these particular savings services including the socio-economic characteristics of the people using each of them. It also explores how savings services are used to manage household income and expenditure flows, reasons for peoples saving in-kind and the kind of financial services that might induce them to start monetised savings. This report draws lessons for microfinance institutions (MFIs) seeking to develop poor-responsive savings services.