socialprotection.org presents the Webinar Series on Gender-Sensitive Social Protection holding its 7 th session: Designing social protection insurance schemes to benefit rural women: lessons from Asia and sub- Saharan Africa Supported by: International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG/UNDP) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ 1
socialprotection.org presents the webinar Designing social protection insurance schemes to benefit rural women: lessons from Asia and sub-saharan Africa Panellists: Shree Kant Kumar, CEO of Vimo SEWA with the support of Tara Sinha Mathieu Dubreuil, Micro-insurance Specialist, R4 Rural Resilience Initiative, WFP Christina Dankmeyer, Advisor, Social Protection Sector Initiative, GIZ Moderator: Maja Gavrilovic, Social Protection Specialist, FAO
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Designing social protection insurance schemes to benefit rural women: lessons from Asia and sub-saharan Africa Moderator Maja Gavrilovic, Social Protection Specialist, FAO Maja is a Social Protection Specialist working with the FAO s Social Protection and Gender Teams. In this position, she acts as a focal point for the technical and capacity development work on gender-sensitive social protection programming and is currently leading a development of the training guides on how to integrate gender into cash transfers and public works schemes. Prior to this role, in FAO, her research focus was on the policy and operational synergies between agriculture and social protection. Before joining FAO, she has carried out a qualitative research and policy work for various donors, including UNICEF, DFID, UN Women on social protection, maternal and child health, and child protection. From 2013-14, she supported the Government of The Gambia to develop its first national social protection policy 2015-2025, and implementation plan. Her latest publication is entitled Strengthening coherence between agriculture and social protection to combat rural poverty and hunger in Africa: framework for analysis and action (FAO, 2016).
Designing social protection insurance schemes to benefit rural women: lessons from Asia and sub-saharan Africa Panellist Christina Dankmeyer, Advisor, Social Protection Sector Initiative, GIZ Christina Dankmeyer currently works as an advisor to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development with GIZ s Social Protection Sector Initiative. Prior to joining GIZ, Christina worked as a social protection specialist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, where she led the process of developing the organization s Social Protection Framework. She also previously worked with WHO s Social Determinants of Health Unit as well as on the GIZ Microinsurance Innovations Programme for Social Security (MIPSS) in the Philippines
Designing social protection insurance schemes to benefit rural women: lessons from Asia and sub-saharan Africa Panellist Shree Kant Kumar, CEO of Vimo SEWA with the support of Tara Sinha Shree Kant Kumar is working with the National Insurance VimoSEWA Cooperative Ltd (VimoSEWA) as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and having more than 10 years of experience of both corporate world and of development sector. He has implemented different multi-stakeholders projects in the thematic areas of microfinance, microinsurance, livelihood, health, child care and capacity building in India and three countries in East Africa including Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa. He has successfully established and managed the first women farmer s cooperative promoted by the Self Employed Women s Association (SEWA) in Gujarat and make it financially viable. Prior to joining SEWA, he has worked with the leading private insurance company of India and passionate to learn and apply different management tools and techniques to solve the social issues of informal sector women workers through their own organizations.
Designing social protection insurance schemes to benefit rural women: lessons from Asia and sub-saharan Africa Panellist Mathieu Dubreuil, Micro-insurance Specialist, R4 Rural Resilience Initiative, WFP Mathieu Dubreuil is Microinsurance Advisor at the World Food Programme in the Climate and DRR Programmes Unit, particularly focusing on index insurance, and the R4 Initiative. Based in Rome, he currently mostly focuses on the R4 countries Senegal, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe. He is also providing technical expertise to the ARC Replica initiative. Before, he was managing 5 microinsurance brokerage companies in West Africa, for PlaNet Guarantee, and particularly heading a regional index insurance programme, based in Senegal during 5 years. Previously, as Africa director, he developed credit life and health microinsurance in West Africa, Madagascar and Palestine. He started as admin & finance officer and technical assistant for PlaNet Finance Morocco, where he spent 3 years. Mathieu is graduated from EDHEC Business School, with a major on cultural and humanitarian aid management.
Designing social protection insurance schemes to benefit rural women: lessons from Asia and sub-saharan Africa Panellist Tara Sinha, Consultant Tara Sinha has been working in the development sector for over 25 years. Her areas of expertize include Gender and Women s Empowerment, Microinsurance, Microfinance and Community Health. She is currently working as an independent consultant. Some of the organizations she has consulted for include the Self-employed Women s Organization (SEWA), the International Center for Research on Women, German Agency for Technical Development (GIZ), World Bank, World Health Organization, Tata Strategic Management Group and the Microinsurance Academy. She has worked both in programme management and research, and has published in refereed journals, particularly in the area of microinsurance and community health. She has a Master s degree in Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley and an M.Phil (Sociology) from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR ALL? CLOSING THE GENDER GAP IN INSURANCE Christina Dankmeyer GIZ Social Protection Advisor Socialprotection.org Webinar 14 Dec. 2017
Social protection for all WHY gender-sensitive insurance? Women face different risks than men, e.g. due to maternity or a caretaker role in the household They face more challenges in access and usage: Legal access: laws restricting women s economic opportunities (in 155 of 173 economies) Socio-economic access: Women are disproportionately represented among the poor Cultural and physical access Access to knowledge: lower literacy rates Seite 10
2017 Publication prepared for the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) 3 Industry perspectives 4 Government stakeholder perspectives 4 Case Studies
WHAT do we know? Documented examples of insurance for and by women that works, for example: Cooperative-driven health cover in India (VimoSEWA) Compulsory health cover in Jordan Microinsurance mutuals in the Philippines Data on arguments for having insurance: e.g. healthcare costs most common cause of strain on women s savings and assets Qualitative information, such as better results for women through female agents Interest of private sector, while regulators are only beginning to act Seite 12
HOW can insurance be designed more inclusively for women? Collect and analyze inclusive insurance sex-disaggregated data on both the supply and demand side Promote gender diversity not only among regulators but also in the insurance industry Make financial literacy programs more responsive to women clients Support regulatory environment for and research on new products and distribution channels to target women clients and Address other legal and policy constraints that indirectly limit access and usage of insurance Seite 13
What we don t know what is needed? Data to make a business/economic case: to highlight that support serving women is indeed a good business and a good investment in society Examples beyond traditional (social) insurance: e.g. life or asset insurance, agricultural insurance Incentives to engage stakeholders more consistently and efficiently: Which incentives will work for insurers, for community-organisations, for supervisors, for policy-makers to act? How new technologies can be leveraged and affect women Seite 14
Compendium available at: https://ifc.org/gender/womenininclusiveinsurance Information on Launch at IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings 2017: #InsureHERProtectALL
Health and Financial Protection by, for and with Informal Women Workers: VimoSEWA, Insurance cooperative of the Self Employed Women s Association (SEWA)
The Problem 1. Little or no financial and social protection during crises like hospitalisation. 2. The poorest and most vulnerable women repeatedly face risks; often several at a time. 3. Unforeseen events like hospitalisation push informal women workers and their families into debt, distress selling of assets and further into poverty. 4. SEWA Bank reported that sickness is the number one cause for taking loans.
VimoSEWA s Goal To provide some financial risk cover to informal women workers and their families during sickness and other unforeseen events, thus enabling them to emerge from poverty and towards selfreliance. The risk cover is provided by their own financially viable cooperative, where women are the users, managers and owners, thus strengthening their solidarity and sisterhood.
Genesis of VimoSEWA Insurance progamme started in 1992; both life & non-life products (health, accident insurance) National Insurance VimoSEWA Cooperative registered in 2009; 12,000 women share-holders from 5 states in India + 13 organisations 100,000 insured women, family members 10 products health, life, accident, loss of daily income Products, services marketed by 200 Vimo Sathis, all women workers. 19
VimoSEWA: SEWA s Insurance Cooperative Services offered: Product development for responding to women s needs Insurance education for ensuring reach to women Linking with insurers Selling products through women insurance promoters only Claims processing and servicing-at the women s doorstep Maintaining data base Linking with other SEWA cooperatives: SEWA Bank (savings, credit, pension) Lok Swasthya (primary health care) 20
Effect of insurance products & services on women clients Insurance has been a significant source of financial support to women Rs 200 million or USD 3 million by way of claims Alleviated anxieties caused due to potential uncertainty /risks faced Increased financial literacy Increased financial inclusion and social protection with women in the lead--as insurance policy holder, share-holder of cooperative More productive use of women s resources/ finances due to risk-pooling, thereby helping to build women s assets Strengthened sense of self-worth as workers whose social protection is as important as that of any male workers. Provided work and regular income to women as insurance promoters; demonstrated that informal women workers can organise, run their own insurance and also earn from it
Performance and impact 1. VimoSEWA is financially viable, generating profit, giving dividend; Growth: 10% per annum 2. Outreach insureds in 7 states 20 new partner organisations 3. Concrete economic benefit via claims : Rs 20 Crores (USD 3 million) in last 25 years 4. Government s health insurance schemes incorporate VimoSEWA s approach 5. Parliament s Insurance Committee incorporates VimoSEWA s approach 22
Challenges 1. Sustainability - right mix of financial and social goals required: Scale is key Outreach Managing costs and revenues Efficient processes Client Value Appropriate products and processes Proper disclosure of terms/conditions Timely servicing 2. Regulatory framework High capital requirement for becoming a registered insurer No special regulations for mutuals / cooperatives, nor promotion of microinsurance 23
Conditions for Successful Implementation 1. Trust 2. Large grassroots network 3. Committed technical persons, professionals 4. Membership-based organisation (co-operative) democratic, transparent governance 5. Flexibility and ability to evolve 6. Strong commitment to financial viability 7. Integrated approach, especially with primary health care 8. Credibility with hospitals, providers
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Gender Sensitive Insurance The experience of R4 MIN Webinar, Oct 2017
A Window into the Future 1.Rationale 2.The R4 Model 3.Gender Sensitive Approach 4.Outputs & Impact 5.Challenges
Rationale Women are most food insecure as they have less access to, and control over, resources; Women are also the most vulnerable to shocks. Women are less involved in decisions within the community & their HH In Malawi and Zambia, women in rural areas suffer from widespread inequality, in large part related to unequal access to and control over agriculture production resources such as land, credit, extension services, farm implements and inputs In Senegal, Men are significantly less involved in nutrition activities
# insured Sum insured premium payout R4 Model At least 55.000 insured in 2017
Gender Sensitive Approach Gender Policy : WFP s ability to achieve its Strategic Objectives depends on its capacity to deliver food assistance that addresses the different needs and priorities of the women, men, girls and boys whom it serves. (1) 4 guiding principles : Food assistance adapted to different needs (2) Equal participation (from design to implementation and monitoring) Decision making by women & girls Gender & protection (3) No specific gender based targeting on insurance. HH decide how to participate in the different components In SA : Strong gender inequalities in both countries, particularly restricted labor capacity which strongly impact productivity and income generation In Kenya : Most of the men are engaged in casual labor and do not prefer to spend time on assets as other opportunities can me more remunerative
Gender Sensitive Approach R4 attempts to remove the barriers for women to access climate risk management services by designing mechanisms that facilitate participation in the different components : DRR: easing the norms for participation in community activities; Focus on individual assets; Risk Transfer: design products that consider women s perspective and circumstances; design and deliver through women groups (e.g. Senegal); promote women access to mobile technology; Risk reserves: design savings mechanisms that are appropriate to women (low income, low mobility) while progressively removing the barriers to accessing formal financial services; Risk taking: focus on IGAs appropriate for women; focus on technical/business support and financial education; progressively address the barriers for accessing credit This approach has shown results: More women have access to services (slide 5); Women seem to have benefited more (impact evaluations)
Gender Sensitive Approach But R4 is targeting households Thus, in Senegal, in 2016 Risk reduction component : 12,000 participants (M: 6,100; F: 5,900 ) including 12% of female headed HH Risk Transfer : 7563 participants ( M:3634, F: 3929), Risk Reserves : 765 saving for change groups created, with 17,749 members. 81% women Prudent risk taking : 50 / 50
Gender Sensitive Approach 2014 2015 2016 2017 Female Female Female Female Ethiopia 31% 33% 34% 38% Senegal 53% 31% 52% 53% Malawi 64% 72% 65% Zambia 54% 49% 51% Kenya 86% Total females 8,177 10,717 16,918 28,705 Total 24,970 31,906 41,867 57,008 Data from Kenya & Malawi are still under review for 2017
Outputs & Impact : Ethiopia (IE 2016) Insurance has an impact on investment (in oxen, labor, land surface access to loans) & production (cereals) and income diversification, even more for female headed HH than male headed HH and non insured WII is considered having the strongest impact of all the components Reduction of impact of drought, particularly on women headed HH FS, resilience, productive assets maintained (during and after drought) Improvement of coping strategies for women insured
Outputs & Impact: Senegal (IE 2016) Focus on women headed HH Overall significant increase in staple crop production (1) Overall increase in FCS (2) and greater decrease in CSI (3) Increased decision making responsibility among women in participant HH (4) It has to be noted, that the S4C component is probably the most important driver of change in decision making Asset creation + saving + insurance has a significant impact on crop production (sorghum & millet). It also limits the reduction in household expenditures (8.3% vs 17.2% for FFA only) Thanks to insurance, participants feel more confident to invest in agriculture
Challenges Overall : We do not specifically target women for the insurance component HH targeting Insurance only makes sense if integrated into broader risk management strategy During design process : need to make specific efforts to ensure good inputs from women (tend not to speak if men around) In general, men are focusing on cereals and women on vegetables In Ethiopia : specific situation Women buying insurance are fewer than women in the PSNP (35% vs 45%). In general, it is the only county where we find it more difficult to involve women (including in the implementation team) Limited impact on decision making
World Food Programme Mathieu Dubreuil Microinsurance Advisor, Climate & DRR Unit Policy & Programme Division mathieu.dubreuil@wfp.org 14/12/2017
Questions and Answers Mathieu Dubreuil Christina Dankmeyer Shree Kant Kumar Maja Gavrilovic Submit your questions! Type them in the GoToWebinar chat bar
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