|
The Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri) is a non-profit thinktank based in Cape Town and operating in collaboration with universities in the region. Cenfri's mission is to support financial sector development and financial inclusion through facilitating better regulation and market provision of financial services. We do this by conducting research, providing advice and developing capacity building programmes for regulators, market players and other parties operating in the low-income market. Our focus areas currently are microinsurance, health financing and insurance, AML/CFT, retail payment systems and money transfers. Cenfri is a non-profit (Section 21) company registered in South Africa and was established with support from the FinMark Trust (www.finmark.org.za) |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Microinsurance Zambia: Innovation Workshop (2010) |
 |
 |
 |
|
While it is a social protection tool that can reduce vulnerability among the poor, microinsurance also presents a viable business opportunity for insurers in developing countries (where the bulk of the market is often low-income). In 2009, Cenfri completed a review of the opportunities and challenges to microinsurance development in Zambia, funded by the ILO (with UNCDF funding) and the FinMark Trust, resulting in a stakeholder workshop in June 2009. Subsequently, a process was launched to design and implement a strategy for microinsurance development, driven by local stakeholders. As part of this strategy process, Cenfri hosted a capacity building workshop in Lusaka on 3 February 2010 to share international examples of innovation in microinsurance business models and intermediation channels and draw out lessons for Zambia. The workshop was attended by almost 100 representatives from a variety of stakeholder groups. Click here to download the workshop presentation (PDF: 1.59MB) |
|
Microinsurance in Brazil: Opportunities for market development (2009) |
|
|
|
|
Cenfri has been commissioned by the Brazilian National School for Insurance (Funenseg) and the insurance industry association (CNSeg) to do a study to assess the current and potential microinsurance market in Brazil, the drivers of market development and the opportunities and challenges for microinsurance expansion. This study will serve as input to the microinsurance consultative commission– a joint process between the regulator, other government departments and private sector to work towards a microinsurance regulatory framework. It will also provide inputs on regulatory and industry strategy going forward, including recommendations to SUSEP, the insurance supervisor, on the nature of a possible microinsurance regulatory framework. The preliminary results of the analysis were presented at a stakeholder workshop in Rio de Janeiro on 2 December 2009.
Click here to download the presentation (PDF: 873KB) |
|
Making health insurance work for the low-income market in South Africa (2009) |
|
|
|
|
This study, conducted by Elixir Business Consulting and Fifth Quandrant, was funded by the Finmark Trust and managed by the Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri). The final report presents the findings and conclusions of a study that identifies the main drivers of health insurance costs in South Africa, as well as strategies that can be used to reduce these costs, to support the inclusion of low-income earners. Click here to download final report (PDF: 2.35MB) Click here to download media release (PDF: 371KB) Click here to view a Mail&Guardian article based on this study (PDF:120.2KB) |
|
Read more...
|
|
South Africa: Demand-side analysis of market for medical schemes (2009) |
|
|
|
|
During the last ten years, South Africa has achieved remarkable progress in the area of financial inclusion for lower-income households in specifically the banking and, to a lesser degree, insurance markets. Limited progress has been made in expanding medical schemes (government’s chosen vehicle for private health financing) to more South Africans. While it may be fair to say that the higher income market for medical schemes is saturated, middle to lower income groups remain excluded.
Click here to download final report (PDF: 517KB) |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Reviewing the regulatory framework for money transfers (2010) |
|
|
|
|
As economic hub of the region, South Africa attracts a large number of migrant workers from neighbouring countries, many of them without the necessary documentation and work permits. Regardless of their status, migrants send money home to families that are often dependent on these remittances for survival. Though the majority of South Africans are now banked, the SADC cross-border remittances economy remains largely informal. Informal remittances are not only risky and often expensive for the senders, but undocumented currency outflows on which no money laundering control can be exercised also present risk to the financial system. Click here to download the full document (PDF:851KB) |
|
Read more...
|
|
Access to Insurance Initiative (A2ii) - Rio Launch (2009) |
|
|
|
|
The groundbreaking A2ii was launched at the annual International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) conference in Rio de Janeiro on 22 October 2009.  Cenfri, as the manager of the microinsurance theme area for Finmark Trust, has played a key role in setting up the Access to Insurance Initiative. The Cenfri team managed and supported the delivery of five country studies and developed the synthesis analysis that has formed the basis and motivation for the setting up of the A2ii. Cenfri has already undertaken two additional country diagnostics (besides South Africa and Uganda) that will be incorporated under the umbrella of the A2ii. These were funded by the ILO/UNCDF. Click here to download the official media release (PDF:182.09KB) Click here to download A2II factsheet (PDF:1.13MB) Click here to download the presentation Cenfri made on microinsurance at the opening plenary of the IAIS conference |
|
Read more...
|
|
Towards a strategy for microinsurance development in Zambia: Market and regulatory analysis (2009) |
|
|
|
|
Zimbabwe Remittance Corridor (July 2009) |
|
|
|
|
This study, undertaken by Saul Kerzner, was commissioned by the Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri), on behalf of the FinMark Trust, to sketch a picture of the remittances landscape in the Johannesburg-Zimbabwe corridor. The aim was to build an understanding of the dynamics of remittances sent to Zimbabwe and the drivers of change, and to gauge the scope for and barriers to the formal intermediation of remittances. Click here to download full report (PDF:2.31 MB) |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 1 of 2 |
Cenfri, in collaboration with Yoseph Aseffa, has recently completed a study commissioned by the ILO/UNCDF and FinMark Trust to consider the opportunities and challenges to microinsurance development in Zambia.