Dear RFILC members,

A growing number of innovations and technologies have emerged in recent years in the area of microinsurance, that explicitly target the financial inclusion gap faced by low-income populations in developing and emerging countries. In line with this trend, there is an increasing number of studies analyzing the many possible applications of digital technology to microinsurance. We are pleased to bring to your attention a recent one commissioned by the MicroInsurance Centre, titled: “Technology In Microinsurance: How New Developments Affect the Work of Actuaries”. This report provides the basis to understand the evolving role of technology in microinsurance, as well as its potential impact on insurance and the actuarial profession. It intends to spark readers’ interest in and create a vision for how microinsurance and its associated technologies might impact the industry in the future.

The second highlight of this month is a report published by The Center for Financial Inclusion at Acciòn titled: “Client Voices: Rwandans Speak on Digital Financial Services”. The East African region remains a leader in digital financial innovation and account usage, with two-thirds of the combined adult populations of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda actively using mobile money. Given the proliferation of mobile financial services, particularly among underserved populations, client protection issues remain of critical importance. Based on a survey of over 1,200 people in three districts in Rwanda, this report delves into the experiences of individuals who use digital financial services, the main client protection issues they are concerned about, and the impact and prevalence of negative experiences. The report offers specific recommendations for many stakeholders on how to create a stronger, more inclusive client protection ecosystem.

Finally, we would like to inform you that final last workshop of the Sustainable Microfinance and Development Program (SMDP) is bound to take place in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa from August 26th to September 6th, 2019. The two-week event is offered by the University of New Hampshire, hosted by SaveAct and delivered by VSL Associates and SaveAct. This workshop will be fully devoted to teaching about the creation and management of Savings Groups (SG) programs, providing participants with the latest tools necessary to design, implement, track and supervise the extent and quality of outreach.  The aim is to show participants how to design efficient and effective SG programs, able to operate at low-cost and significant scale. For this reason, the workshop will employ a strong hands-on teaching approach that involves a mixture of classroom lectures, simulations, as well as field visits to successful savings groups that have been operational for several years.

With best regards,
The RFILC editorial team