About
We imagine a world where poor people in emerging economies are appropriately covered for the risks they face.
Our approach
We strengthen and inspire microinsurance leaders to make a difference in the business of reducing the risks of low-income communities.
By accelerating microinsurance businesses and building a community of changemakers, the sector as a whole and, in particular, microinsurance beneficiaries will thrive.
In all our work, we apply the following principles:
Act on purpose
Purpose, not profit, is our North Star. We work for and with changemakers who share our passion for the good that microinsurance does.
Customer-centric approach
Any successful microinsurance solution is designed from a deep understanding of client needs. We apply Design Thinking in all our work.
Immersion insight
We venture out of the office or training room as often as we can to meet microinsurance beneficiaries.
Start-up way of working
We promote a lean approach to microinsurance with a intrapreneur who builds, measures and learns the way to success.
Connecting leaders
Whenever possible, w connect emerging and established leaders with first-hand experience in the matter at hand.
True partnerships
We are no one-stop shop. We work with partner organisations who share our cause and solidify our offering.
Our activities
Our main activity is the 10-week Microinsurance Master accelerator programme that has runs annually since 2018.
But we do more:
- Alumni network: we continue to work with our Microinsurance Masters through our alumni programme
- The Microinsurance Masterclass: a 2 to 5-day best of Microinsurance Master with a good dose of Human Centred Design
- In-house programmes: we blend workshops, coaching and consulting into tailormade programmes for insurers and sector development organisations.
Who’s behind the programme?
It’s best to think of the Microinsurance Master programme as a collaboration.
It is the initiative of Bert Opdebeeck, who has joined forces with several champions of the sector and industry organisations.
Microinsurance Master is built on years of hands-on experience and the insights of people and organisations with impressive track records.
Bert Opdebeeck
- He has been highly involved in the sector since 2006.
- Bert worked with numerous microinsurers in Africa and Latin America while establishing the microinsurance practice at BRS and played a key role in the establishment of the microinsurance key performance indicators. These are now accepted as industry-standard.
- In addition, he served as a working group facilitator and board member of the Microinsurance Network and ICMIF’s Development Committee; and he developed training programmes that he and others have taught to more than 450 microinsurance practitioners in 14 countries.
Pioneer Microinsurance
Pioneer is a leading insurer in the Philippines. Its non-life microinsurance products are provided via a remarkable joint venture called CARD Pioneer- with CARD MRI, the largest microfinance institution in the country with more than four million members. It is the first microinsurance company in the Philippines envisioned to address the calamity, agriculture and income loss insurance needs of the low-income population.
Pioneer Microinsurance hosted Microinsurance Master in 2018 and 2019.
Hollard Insurance
Hollard Insurance is the largest private insurer in South-Africa, providing both life and non-life insurance. It has over five million policy holders in 11 countries.
Hollard is a purpose-driven insurer that views the low-income market as a core element of its strategy in South Africa and internationally. Key to Hollard’s sustained growth has been its partnership philosophy, boasting over 100 ventures across the insurance value chain.
In 2020 we camped out in their offices in South Africa for two weeks, going behind the scenes and out of the office to experience first-hand their successful microinsurance recipe.
ILO's Impact Insurance Facility
The ILO’s Impact Insurance Facility enables the insurance sector, governments, and their partners to embrace impact insurance to reduce households’ vulnerability, promote stronger enterprises and facilitate better public policies.
The organisation is a leading knowledge hub in the sector and at the forefront of learning and innovation. It has worked closely with Microinsurance Master to develop the training design and materials.
MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman
The MicroInsurance Centre at Milliman (MIC@M) is a microinsurance industry leader and specialized business unit within Milliman. The MIC@M provides consulting services in microinsurance supply-side market development and institutional development worldwide.
The MIC@M provided guidance in the design of Microinsurance Master and provides coaches for the programme.
Microinsurance Network
Milliman
Milliman is among the world’s largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property and casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits.
Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe.
Milliman is a supporter and key enabler for the Microinsurance Master programme’s outreach.