Publication database

In 2009, the Microinsurance Innovation Facility published, in its Briefing Notes series, the results of a study that revealed the current landscape of microinsurance in Africa. The study, conducted in partnership with the MicroInsurance Centre, identified over 14 million low-income people in Africa who were covered by microinsurance at the end of 2008, almost double where this figure stood in 2004. Even with such growth, substantial parts of the continent remain almost barren of microinsurance. Microinsurance Paper #4 is an expanded version of those briefing notes, presenting more detailed results of the study and setting them in context. Market opportunity and demand are covered in depth, along with the African regulatory environment and other important enabling factors. The current outreach of microinsurance in Africa, including insurers, products, and delivery channels, is then presented from a practice-based perspective, with case studies and input from expert practitioners. The paper concludes with a discussion of challenges that must be overcome in order to facilitate broader, high-quality expansion in the years to come.

This case study focuses on the inclusive business model of Zain Madagascar (now Airtel Madagascar), a mobile network operator active in the Middle East and Africa. Zain Madagascar worked to extend its reach to consumers who could not afford their own phones through a Village Phone Program (VPP). Network expansion through the VPP has made coverage possible in geographically remote areas and economies of scale help keep prices low. The case describes the inclusive business model, the company's commercial drivers, results achieved as well as IFC's role and value add.

This report focuses on key issue areas that need to be addressed to move the field of inclusive business forward. 14 different cases of companies which operate in a range of different countries and industry sectors are analysed and a first look provides a preliminary analysis of the drivers, results, and key elements these inclusive business models share.

This report explores the National Beverage Company (NBC), the local Coca-Cola bottler in the West Bank and Gaza. It discusses the company's experience in contributing to the local economy by generating local investment and income, creating jobs and investing in human capital, producing safe and affordable products, supporting local small enterprise development, implementing international business standards and technology, and sustaining operations in a conflict-affected area.

This report examines efforts by large firms to encourage entrepreneurship in the Middle East and Southeast Asia; it provide examples that aim to stimulate conversation on corporate contributions to support entrepreneurship, and offer recommendations for deepening ties in this area between businesses, foundations and social entrepreneurs.

This case study focuses on the urban planning strategies used by a local architecture consultancy firm called ADAPT (Appropriate Development, Architecture and Planning Technologies). It examines how they meet the opportunities of building, upgrading and renewing urban real estate in Egypt’s informal economy. The report describes the market and location context, the business model, constraints and solutions, the actors, and the results of the business.