MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman

?? What if research could be more engaging and authentic? That’s the question we explored during our recent Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in Malawi, where MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman tested an innovative, story-based approach to gathering insights from farmers. Instead of the typical question-and-answer format, we introduced two fictional farmers, Moses and Melina, who had just moved to the community and needed guidance on how to start their farm. The real farmers became advisors, offering recommendations, sharing their experiences, and discussing real-life challenges—all in a natural, conversational way. ?? Why does this matter? ? More engagement – Farmers (50% of whom were women) felt comfortable sharing insights in a storytelling format. ? More honest responses – Removing the “NGO interviewer” dynamic helped eliminate response bias. This approach was designed by John Caroll and Mebrahtu Brhan Gebre and brought to life by local trained facilitators. The FGDs took place across Zomba, Chikwawa, Mulanje, and Blantyre Rural. A big thank you to our partners at Opportunity International Malawi (Richard Chongo,?SAKINA MANDANDA,?MARY MWASE,?Chisomo Zamadunga?and all of the other Opportunity International Malawi staff), as well as our other MIC@M team members (Emily Coleman, Katie Biese, and Michael J. McCord) for their support in making this happen! ?? Check out some behind-the-scenes photos from the sessions! #InclusiveInsurance #Microinsurance #FinancialInclusion #Agriculture #ResearchInnovation #Malawi

Partnering with Development Agencies to Build Resilience Risk management is at the heart of sustainable development. For donors and development agencies, integrating insurance into resilience-building efforts can create lasting impact for low-income communities. At MIC@M, we work with global development partners to: ?? Conduct market research to better understand demand, supply, and opportunities for innovation. ?? Strengthen industry capacity—from training regulators and insurance industry stakeholders, to facilitating dialogue and lesson sharing ?? Designing, implementing, and sharing learnings from innovative microinsurance solutions From climate risk insurance to remittances, our work helps organizations explore new frontiers in inclusive insurance. Let’s work together to create innovative risk management solutions that uplift communities worldwide. #DevelopmentFinance #ResilienceBuilding #Microinsurance #FinancialInclusion

Supporting Insurers in the Microinsurance Market The microinsurance market is unlike traditional insurance—it comes with unique challenges, from product-market fit to distribution to regulatory hurdles. At the MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman we help insurers bridge these gaps and build sustainable, customer-centric microinsurance programs. With 25 years of experience in more than 80 countries, we support insurers with: ? Customer and market insights—understanding low-income segments, value chains, and industry trends. ? Product innovation—helping insurers design and scale solutions that truly meet customer needs. ? Business transformation and strategy—assisting companies in adopting new models and go-to-market strategies. Through these efforts, we ensure that microinsurance delivers value to both customers and insurers. If you're looking to build or enhance your microinsurance offerings, we’d love to work with you! #Microinsurance #InsuranceInnovation #FinancialInclusion #InclusiveInsurance

Supporting Insurers in the Microinsurance Market The microinsurance market is unlike traditional insurance—it comes with unique challenges, from product-market fit to distribution to regulatory hurdles. At the MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman we help insurers bridge these gaps and build sustainable, customer-centric microinsurance programs. With 25 years of experience in more than 80 countries, we support insurers with: ? Customer and market insights—understanding low-income segments, value chains, and industry trends. ? Product innovation—helping insurers design and scale solutions that truly meet customer needs. ? Business transformation and strategy—assisting companies in adopting new models and go-to-market strategies. Through these efforts, we ensure that microinsurance delivers value to both customers and insurers. If you're looking to build or enhance your microinsurance offerings, we’d love to work with you! #Microinsurance #InsuranceInnovation #FinancialInclusion #InclusiveInsurance

?? Celebrating Work Anniversaries: Armelle O. & Katie Biese! ?? This January, we celebrate two incredible milestones: Armelle and Katie’s work anniversaries at the MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman! ?? Armelle, a dedicated consultant and project manager, has been instrumental in driving impactful solutions for underserved communities. Her expertise and commitment to advancing microinsurance have made a real difference in our mission. ?? Katie, our amazing Director of Operations, ensures we stay organized, strategic, and focused on delivering meaningful results. Her leadership and attention to detail inspire us all. Both Armelle and Katie embody the values of resilience, innovation, and teamwork that define our work. We're so grateful for their contributions and look forward to many more achievements together! Cheers to more years of invaluable impact. ???? #WorkAnniversary #Teamwork #microinsurance #Milliman

Sustainable Banking: The Role of Non-Interest Finance in Fostering ESG Compliance ?? Excited to share that Michael J. McCord, Managing Director of the MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman, will be joining Islamic Finance Weekly on WebTV to discuss the vital role of non-interest finance in advancing ESG compliance. ?? Friday, December 20th, 2024 ? 11:00 AM WAT ?? Watch live via www.proshare.co/webtv Non-interest finance offers sustainable solutions for modern banking challenges while aligning with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals. This session promises valuable insights for financial leaders, sustainability advocates, and anyone passionate about ethical banking. Don’t miss out on this important conversation! ?? Follow WebTV Nigeria for updates. #SustainableBanking #ESG #NonInterestFinance #IslamicFinance #Milliman?

FSI talks episode 9: Inclusive insurance: leveraging international experience to meet local needs This episode of FSI talks aims at discussing inclusive insurance as a vehicle for economic growth by exploring the international experience, business models, and product characteristics. In addition, identify the best way to serve inclusive insurance in the Egyptian economy in the light of the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) strategy for financial inclusion. Workshop agenda 13:00 - 13:10 Welcome and setting the scene Dr. Tarek Seif FCII, Chartered Insurer , CDIF (Islamic Finance) Executive Director, Financial Services Institute. 13:10–13:50: Initial notes and panel presentations Michael J. McCord, Managing Director, Micro-insurance Centre, Milliman, USA. Lemmy Manje , CEO, Fin Probity Solutions Limited, Zambia. 13:50–14:30: Panel Discussion—global insights, local needs, and regulatory framework. Manal Mashkoor, FCII, Head, Centre for Insurance, Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, Bahrain. Dr. Moustafa Khalil, Deputy Assistant to the Chairman, Financial Regulatory Authority. Hadil AbdelKader, Secretary-General, Insurance Federation of Egypt. 14:30–15:20: Questions from the audience to speakers and panelists. 15:20–15:30: Warm up and take-aways. Dr. Tarek Seif FCII, Chartered Insurer , CDIF (Islamic Finance), Executive Director, Financial Services Institute. Register via: https://lnkd.in/efudHjNk #FSI #Insurance #talk

The Magical Balance ? Striking a balance between profit for insurers and value for customers is key. Our focus is on creating solutions that benefit both ends of the value chain. This philosophy recognizes that there must be value on both ends of the value chain: there should be long-term, reasonable profit for insurers and distributors on one end, and a product that provides clear value for low-income customers on the other. Learn more about our MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman here: https://lnkd.in/dbCmhfy5

We’re LIVE at the African Takaful and Non-Interest Finance Conference in Lagos! ?? Join Michael J. McCord Managing Director of the MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman, as he shares insights on Micro Takaful and Collaboration for Sustainable Islamic Finance ?? Don’t miss out—join us here: https://lnkd.in/dRADwW3R Let’s shape the future of inclusive finance together!

??We have exciting news! ?? We're pleased to announce that Michael J. McCord, our Managing Director at the MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman, will be speaking at the African Takaful and Non-Interest (Islamic) Finance Conference on November 12-13, 2024. Michael will bring his expertise to two critical panels: ??Micro Takaful: Enhancing Economic Stability for Low-Income Communities ??Leveraging Technology for Resilient Islamic Finance and Takaful Services With the theme “Unveiling the Convergence: Islamic Finance for a Sustainable and Equitable Future,” the conference promises to provide valuable insights into the future of Takaful and Islamic finance in Nigeria and Africa. We’re excited to contribute to this important dialogue on building sustainable, inclusive finance solutions. Stay tuned for updates from Lagos! #IslamicFinance #Takaful #Microinsurance #FinancialInclusion #SustainableFinance