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Microinsurance, a vital tool for the economic empowerment of women
May 2009 -
Brandon Matthews, of Zurich Financial Services, interviews
Women's World Banking president, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, about their collaboration on a health microinsurance programme in Jordan. They discuss their motivations for diversifying into microinsurance and the potential benefits the programme could bring to female entrepreneurs.
The interview highlights the importance of microinsurance as a tool for the economic empowerment of women. Women micro entrepreneurs, in contrast to men, allocate a high percentage of their earnings to savings, in order to protect themselves and their families against future health care needs and other emergencies. Microinsurance offers a more efficient way to guard against risk, while freeing up savings that can be used to increase revenue.
Helen Iskenderian explains why, as the percentage of microfinance clients that are women continues to decrease, developing a product beyond credit, which so aptly responds to women's needs, will allow institutions to continue to serve women and deeply contribute to social development.
Contextualizing the sector
March 2009 -
ACCION International Principle Director, Monica Brand, interviewed Craig Churchill and discussed recent innovations being made in terms of microinsurance products, delivery channels, and supply gaps, as well as the challenges facing the advancement of the sector.
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