Manila Microinsurance Conference calls for papers

Microfinance Focus, March 2, 2010: The 6th International Microinsurance Conference will be held in Manila, Philippines from Nov. 9-11, 2010, in association with the Munich Re Foundation and the Microinsurance Network supported by GTZ/BMZ, the Department of Finance of the Philippines and Georgia State University’s Center for the Economic Analysis of Risk, said a news release.

Around 500 participants and experts from around the world are expected to participate in the conference, including representatives from insurance and reinsurance companies, international organisations, NGOs, development-aid agencies, academics, policymakers, regulators and supervisors.

The organisers have called for empirical, theoretical and policy-oriented papers on the following topics:

·      Design of microinsurance systems
·      Adverse selection and moral hazard
·      Impact and customer value
·      Effectiveness and sustainability
·      Distribution mechanisms
·      Crowding out, and crowding in of alternative risk management mechanisms
·      Regulation, supervision and policy

2) Case studies on innovative and sustainable microinsurance programmes and/or products
Submissions must include solid data providing evidence of the execution of the programme including key performance indicators. Preference is given to submissions focusing on a range of challenges and solutions, highlighting the role of the different stakeholders involved.

3) Thematic issues – Submissions are also requested on the following topics of particular interest to the organisers:

a) New distribution channels
Microfinance institutions are perhaps the most common form of distribution for microinsurance, but through what other channels does insurance reach low-income households? Submissions that compare the relative effectiveness of different distribution channels are particularly relevant.

b) Claims handling
The real meaning of microinsurance occurs when a claim is paid, but how can microinsurers ensure that happens quickly? How can they ensure that the claim is not rejected? Submissions should outline the terms and conditions that work best for insurer and client, what redress is available and effective, and how the community contributes to claims processing.

c) Strategies to develop microinsurance
An enabling environment is key for the development of microinsurance. The submissions should include the role of policymakers and regulators to include a more inclusive insurance market.

d) Microinsurance solutions for natural disasters
The devastation of Haiti in January has raised awareness about the importance of microinsurance and disasters, but can microinsurance really make a difference in the event of earthquakes, droughts, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters? Submissions should focus on experience linked to implementation and learning relevant to coverage for co-variant risks.

e) Insurance literacy
The low-income market often does not understand insurance, so how do microinsurance providers overcome this problem? Preferred submissions would include cost-benefit analysis to assess the effectiveness of consumer education methods.

f) Takaful microinsurance
Is microinsurance relevant for low-income Muslims? Organisers are interested in examples of effective takaful microinsurance, with details about pricing, benefits and management processes.

Conference language: English

Timeline and acceptance
Submission deadline:                                                               31.5.2010
Notification of acceptance:                                                   31.7.2010
Submission of completed papers (theme 1 only):        15.9.2010
Submissions of presentations for the conference:      30.9.2010
Start of registration:                                                                    1.8.2010

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