[Microinsurancefocus] Launch of the Microinsurance Technology Inventory

[Microinsurance Network]

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: 

Matthew Genazzini

Communications Officer

Microinsurance Network

 <mailto:matthew.ada at microfinance.lu> matthew.ada at microfinance.lu

www.microinsurancenetwork.org

 

One small step for the Technology Working Group, one giant leap for
microinsurance 

 

Luxembourg - 21 May 2010: 10 years ago, CGAP launched the first reviews of a
variety of software systems which can be used by MFIs in their provision of
credit. Now, following in the steps of microfinance, the Microinsurance
<http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org/Technology-Inventory/index.php>
Network Technology Working Group is launching the first online
microinsurance technology inventory which both centralises and reviews
software systems specifically designed for microinsurance.

 

The objective of the microinsurance technology inventory is to provide the
microinsurance community with an overview of technologies that can be used
for the administration of insurance products for the low-income population.
This initiative is being conducted by Berende Consulting on behalf of the
Technology Working Group and is funded by the Inter-American
<http://www.iadb.org/mif/home/index.cfm?language=English>  Development Bank
MIF Fomin, the Microinsurance
<http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/mifacility/>  Innovation
Facility and the Microinsurance Network
<http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org/index.php> . 

 

In 2009, following on from the publication of the "Technology for
Microinsurance - Scoping Study", the Technology Working Group started to
approach the various technology vendors to review their systems and analyse
whether their software were applicable to microinsurance. This first
investigation resulted in a list of 18 appropriate software systems, all of
which are freely available to download on the new website. 

 

 <http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org/Technology-Inventory/index.php>  The
website allows the user to search, filter and examine each of the available
software by the product type, language, size of institution, location of
provider...etc. In addition to offering a place for insurance providers to
find the software that most suits their needs, the website also provides a
platform for technology providers to present their products. 

 

The launch of the website is only the beginning of this project as the
Technology Working Group still has a long list of additional features and
developments to put in place. These include developing the inter-activeness
of the website, adding more detailed reviews, translating the website into
Spanish, French and Portuguese, and finally branching out of reviewing only
software systems to other technologies such as mobile phones, smart cards,
point of sale terminals, RFID.etc. 

 

This significant launch is yet more evidence that the momentum behind
microinsurance is slowly but surely catching up with microcredit. 

 

About the Microinsurance Network Technology Working Group 

The Technology Working Group focuses on technology as a means to leverage
capacity for outreach, dissemination and scaling up while decreasing costs
of insurance services. The areas include data collection, communications,
management information systems and services to support microinsurance
practitioners and trainers working with these organisations. 

 

For more information about The Technology Inventory: 

.         Contact Michiel Berende (michiel at berendeconsulting.com) 

.         Visit www.microinsurancenetwork.org/Technology-Inventory/index.php


 

About the Microinsurance Network 

The Microinsurance Network is a network of donor organisations, multilateral
agencies, insurance and social protection providers, policymakers and
academics, all of whom are involved in microinsurance. Its mission is to
promote the development and proliferation of good-value insurance products
for people on low-income by providing a platform for information sharing and
stakeholder coordination. 

 

For more information about the Microinsurance Network: 

.         Contact Matthew Genazzini (matthew.ada at microfinance.lu) 

.         Visit www.microinsurancenetwork.org  

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

Microinsurance Network 

c/o ADA asbl 

2, rue Sainte Zithe 

L-2763 Luxembourg 

Tel: +352 45 68 68 

Fax: +352 45 68 68 68 

Web: www.microinsurancenetwork.org  

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