Publication database

Child labour is a common consequence of economic shocks in developing countries. Research Paper #32 explores how reducing vulnerability through insurance impacts child labour and schooling. Using the case of a health and accident insurance scheme by a Pakistani microfinance institution, the study finds that increased insurance coverage results in lower incidence of child labour and reduced earnings from child labour. The effect is largely attributed to an ex-ante feeling of protection as opposed to a shock-mitigation effect.

ITGI piloted radio frequency identification devices to address problems with claims. It used the introduction as an opportunity to change its processes. Find out how these changes allowed it to better serve its clients and improve the viability of the scheme in Case Brief #2.

Financing health for low income households is a significant challenge. Naya Jeevan is trying an innovative approach: in order to make quality health services affordable to low-income workers in Pakistan, it seeks sponsors to pay the majority of the premium on behalf of workers whom they employ or have a business relationship with.

SAJIDA has consistently found ways to improve the value of its product for clients. From faster claims to community health workers, find out in Case Brief #3 how it uses the PACE tool to identify improvements.

Based on an analysis of the CGAP’s data from national surveys of smallholder households and smallholder diaries, this paper outlines the profile and needs of smallholder families and their various subgroups. Firstly, the paper looks at the relationship between financial activities and the different livelihood strategies employed by smallholder families. Further, it highlights the characteristics and behaviors that are common to large groups of smallholders, discusses how the overall market can be segmented most effectively, and presents a nuanced picture of the different types of smallholder households. Finally, the paper discusses opportunities available for various stakeholders serving smallholder families.

The Energy Access India (EAI) program, funded by USAID from 2015 to 2018, was designed to close the circuit between clean energy enterprises and investors by providing access to knowledge and mentorship able to increase enterprises’ investor readiness so that more capital can flow to these enterprises. Researchers Researchers from the William Davidson Institute and Miller Center studied the challenges and lessons learned from the perspectives of enterprises and investors engaged in the program.

This report analyzes the business models and strategies of the EAI portfolio companies, identifies barriers and opportunities for investment in clean energy enterprises in India and provides actionable recommendations for enterprises and investors to influence the development of the overall clean energy industry.

This Policy Brief summarises a literature review that explored the costs of various sanitation technologies.

Research Paper #6 observes the feasibility of implementing area yield insurance and weather insurance schemes for transferring financial risk and managing production risks. The objective included developing a composite insurance product based on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and weather indices via a participatory approach; testing the yield loss estimation accuracy of such a product; and understanding people`s perceptions about the performance of the product. A relationship was found between the uptake of insurance and being above poverty line, subject to the buyer having heard about the insurer earlier, expecting a bad cropping season ahead, and having a close friend who has availed of the insurance scheme.

Research Paper #25 looks into the social context within which risk attitudes are formed and participation decisions are made, using microdata from rural households in Gujarat, India. Both caste affiliation and social interaction are found to significantly affect the risk attitudes of farmers. Furthermore, social interaction seems to have a significant influence on the adoption of rainfall insurance.

Research Paper #12 looks into whether access to microinsurance makes any difference in reducing child labour. The research compares three groups of households: those with no microcredit or microinsurance, those with microcredit but no microinsurance and those households with both microinsurance and microcredit. The study finds that in the case of extremely poor households with health microinsurance and/or life microinsurance in combination with microcredit, microinsurance has a significant effect on reducing child labour. However, it is also found that credit-life insurance has no significant influence. The practical policy consideration stemming from this research is that providing microcredit to extremely poor households is not enough to negate the use of child labour, however microcredit in combination with certain types of microinsurance can have a positive impact on reducing child labour.