Assessment of Opportunities and Challenges of Micro-Insurance Products in the Ethiopian Insurance Industry
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Date
2025-01-07
Authors
Zufan Abebe
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
A.A.U
Abstract
The main objective of the study is to assess the challenges and opportunities of micro-insurance
products in Ethiopia. The study is based on qualitative and descriptive studies to collect the data from
the main actors that are being involved in the delivery of the micro-insurance products in Ethiopia.
Thus data were collected using open ended interviews with experts in the area of insurance industry.
The main findings showed that there is still a business opportunity for micro insurance business in
Ethiopia (as indicated by about 96 percent of the sampled respondents). Nevertheless, only 33 percent
(9 out of 27) of the respondents indicated that their company is currently engaged in micro insurance
business. The type of micro-insurance products that firms currently provide to their clients include:
Index based livestock insurance, index-based crop insurance, credit life insurance, individual loan,
consumption loan, micro-business loan. The index-based livestock and crop-index based crop
insurances are the ones frequently stated by the firms. The most significant factors indicated by the
respondents as influencing the opportunities for micro-insurance products are: i) Presence of a large
population with low income in the country which can serve as a good customer base for
microinsurance products, ii) Existence of many cooperatives and informal associations in rural areas
can be a good distribution channels (marketing) for micro-insurance, and iii) Presence of conducive
legal frameworks and directives that encourage the micro-insurance product marketing in Ethiopia.
On the other hand, the three most important factors serving as challenges to the microinsurance
product marketing in Ethiopia are: i) Low level of public awareness on insurance products in general
and micro-insurance in particular, ii) Inadequacy of guidelines or directives to operate the microinsurance
On the other hand, the three most important factors serving as challenges to the microinsurance
product marketing in Ethiopia are: i) Low level of public awareness on insurance products in general
and micro-insurance in particular, ii) Inadequacy of guidelines or directives to operate the microinsurance
marketing ,and !!!Lack of Skilled man power in the areas of micro – insurance
.
The issue of the law level of public awareness to the micro -insurance seems so pervasive in the Ethiopian context
The study recommends that there must be an enhanced awareness creation among the government
and public institutions on the importance of micro-insurance. Enhanced public private partnership
(PPPs) also needs to be a priority for micro-insurance dissemination. At the same time commitment
of the government is essential to grow and sustain the business of micro-insurance. Improving the
existing regulatory directives and framework for micro insurance is also another recommendation
based on this study.