Publication database

This paper discusses the role of the private sector in poverty reduction by offering ideas and insights into topical poverty issues and what they mean for business. It outlines the ways in which businesses can engage with Oxfam, and how developing a stronger understanding of development issues can help businesses.

Is there a business case for microinsurance? Under what circumstances can insurance companies generate profits from microinsurance? These are important questions because insurers are increasingly interested to expand into the low-income market. To encourage this expansion, microinsurance initiatives need to demonstrate that they are commercially viable and sustainable over time. Briefing Note #9 assesses the business case for microinsurance through case studies of five microinsurance initiatives. 

Is there a business case for microinsurance? Under what circumstances can insurance companies generate profits from microinsurance? These are important questions because insurers are increasingly interested to expand into the low-income market. To encourage this expansion, microinsurance initiatives need to demonstrate that they are commercially viable and sustainable over time. Microinsurance Paper #11 assesses the business case for microinsurance through case studies of five microinsurance initiatives. 

This comprehensive guide introduces the business community to potential partners in the development community. It covers two sections 'Exploring where business and development meet' and 'Introducing the development community' which provides 30 business-focused profiles of development organisations.

Microinsurance Paper #17 presents lessons from IFFCO-TOKIO's implementation of a livestock insurance product using radio-frequency identification technology. It outlines how IFFCO-TOKIO improved value for clients through new business processes. The case shows that if administered carefully, livestock insurance has the potential to be viable with scale.

This case study reviews social enterprises operating in the agriculture and health sectors in Kenya. It considers how the lack of a widely-accepted social enterprise definition influences activity in Kenya, and it identifies niches within which agriculture and health sector social enterprises are operating.

As is the case elsewhere, in Africa, many people depend entirely on food systems for employment and incomes as well. For these reasons, building resilient and sustainable food systems is crucial to ensuring sustainable economies and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 Goals. However, Africa remains food insecure, accounting for 256 million of the world’s 795 million people suffering from hunger. Against this challenge, this 2021 African Agriculture Status Report (AASR21) provides evidence and insights on the prospects of achieving resilience and sustainability in Africa’s food systems.

In 2014, Echoing Green, a non-profit irganisation, piloted an impact investing “inflection cohort” of ten alumni of their Fellowship programme, each leading for-profit and hybrid social enterprises. This white paper looks at the inflection cohort pilot’s performance in supporting emerging social entrepreneurs.

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the Philippines have created innovative mechanisms to address the financing needs of low-income families and entrepreneurs. Most recently, some MFIs have begun experimenting with microinsurance as means of reducing their clients’ vulnerability to a range of risks. To learn about these nascent activities, this study maps the microinsurance landscape and establishes knowledge on the regulatory framework for insurance in Philippines; identifies the details of microinsurance operations; and examine the demand for insurance by micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

This report about a private sector mapping project takes a closer look at the current motives, strategies, incentives, obstacles, and benefits as perceived by firms to enter untapped majority markets. For this purpose, 521 interviews in thirteen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) were conducted.