<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Texte de bulles Car";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.TextedebullesCar
{mso-style-name:"Texte de bulles Car";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Texte de bulles";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
p.Default, li.Default, div.Default
{mso-style-name:Default;
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-autospace:none;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt 70.85pt;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1651784915;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:1895709260 67895297 67895299 67895301 67895297 67895299 67895301 67895297 67895299 67895301;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-tab-stop:72.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-tab-stop:108.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-tab-stop:144.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-tab-stop:180.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-tab-stop:216.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-tab-stop:252.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-tab-stop:288.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-tab-stop:324.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:1739551910;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-680253068 67895297 67895299 67895301 67895297 67895299 67895301 67895297 67895299 67895301;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level2
{mso-level-tab-stop:72.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l1:level3
{mso-level-tab-stop:108.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l1:level4
{mso-level-tab-stop:144.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l1:level5
{mso-level-tab-stop:180.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l1:level6
{mso-level-tab-stop:216.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l1:level7
{mso-level-tab-stop:252.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l1:level8
{mso-level-tab-stop:288.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
@list l1:level9
{mso-level-tab-stop:324.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1028" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=FR link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter" />
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0" />
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t" />
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Image_x0020_0" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="MiN_Logo.jpg" style='position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;
margin-left:0;margin-top:-.75pt;width:99pt;height:57.75pt;z-index:251658240;
visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image001.jpg@01CAF902.179BFCB0" o:title="MiN_Logo" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=132 height=77
src="cid:image004.jpg@01CAFBED.7C4F1960" align=left hspace=12 alt="MiN_Logo.jpg"
v:shapes="Image_x0020_0"><![endif]><b><span lang=EN-GB>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><b><span lang=EN-GB>CONTACT:
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:
0cm;margin-bottom:.75pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:right'><span lang=EN-GB>Matthew
Genazzini<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:
0cm;margin-bottom:.75pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:right'>Communications
Officer<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:
0cm;margin-bottom:.75pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:right'>Microinsurance
Network<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='mso-margin-top-alt:3.0pt;margin-right:
0cm;margin-bottom:.75pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:right'><span lang=EN-GB><a
href="mailto:matthew.ada@microfinance.lu"><span lang=FR>matthew.ada@microfinance.lu</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><span lang=EN-GB><a
href="http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org">www.microinsurancenetwork.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><b><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=Default><b><span lang=EN-US>One small step for the Technology Working
Group, one giant leap for microinsurance <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>Luxembourg – 21
May 2010</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>: 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 <a
href="http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org/Technology-Inventory/index.php">Microinsurance
Network Technology Working Group</a> is launching the first online
microinsurance technology inventory which both centralises and reviews software
systems specifically designed for microinsurance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>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 <a
href="http://www.iadb.org/mif/home/index.cfm?language=English">Inter-American
Development Bank MIF Fomin</a>, the <a
href="http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/mifacility/">Microinsurance
Innovation Facility</a> and the <a
href="http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org/index.php">Microinsurance Network</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Image_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Technology screenshot 200.JPG"
href="http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org/Technology-Inventory/index.php"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:3pt;margin-top:0;width:150pt;height:109.5pt;
z-index:251657216;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text' o:button="t">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t" />
<v:imagedata src="cid:image003.jpg@01CAF902.179BFCB0" o:title="Technology screenshot 200" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><a
href="http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org/Technology-Inventory/index.php"><img
border=0 width=200 height=146 src="cid:image003.jpg@01CAF902.179BFCB0"
align=left hspace=12 alt="Technology screenshot 200.JPG" v:shapes="Image_x0020_2"></a><![endif]><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>This significant
launch is yet more evidence that the momentum behind microinsurance is slowly
but surely catching up with microcredit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default style='page-break-before:always'><b><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:11.5pt'>About the Microinsurance Network Technology Working
Group </span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>For more information
about The Technology Inventory: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>Contact Michiel
Berende (<a href="mailto:michiel@berendeconsulting.com">michiel@berendeconsulting.com</a>)
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:
Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>Visit </span><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'><a
href="http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org/Technology-Inventory/index.php">www.microinsurancenetwork.org/Technology-Inventory/index.php</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>About the
Microinsurance Network </span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>For more information
about the Microinsurance Network: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:
Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>Contact
Matthew Genazzini (<a href="mailto:matthew.ada@microfinance.lu">matthew.ada@microfinance.lu</a>)
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:
Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>Visit <a
href="http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org">www.microinsurancenetwork.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION: </span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>Microinsurance
Network <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>c/o ADA asbl <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>2, rue Sainte Zithe <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>L-2763 Luxembourg <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>Tel: +352 45 68 68 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>Fax: +352 45 68 68
68 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=Default><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>Web: <a
href="http://www.microinsurancenetwork.org">www.microinsurancenetwork.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.5pt'>####</span></b><span
lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>