Canadian ICMIF member CAMIC is partnering with the ICMIF Foundation to support its project with the DHAN Foundation to support building resilience through access to mutual microinsurance for low-income communities in rural parts of India which have been recently devastated by the second wave of COVID-19.
CAMIC is pleased to announce that Co-operators has shown generous support for this international initiative by contributing USD 200,000 over a two-year period. Thanking Co-operators for its significant contribution, and for the leadership it has provided for this campaign as a member of both CAMIC and ICMIF, Sangita Kamblé, President and CEO of CAMIC said: “the support from Co-operators will contribute to building community resilience in the wake of COVID-19 by assisting those in the greatest need and is a strong demonstration of how mutuality can expand beyond our local borders.”
“Through ICMIF 5-5-5, we are proud to support rural communities in India who have endured significant challenges during this pandemic,” says Rob Wesseling, President and CEO of Co-operators. “Not only does this initiative reflect who we are as a cooperative, it is a powerful demonstration of the strength of the global cooperative movement.”
CAMIC has also announced that Wawanesa Mutual Insurance has also contributed to the DHAN Foundation campaign through CAMIC’s appeal. Sangita Kamblé also expressed her appreciation for this support, which will assist those in India who have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.
“Our purpose as a mutual insurance company is to look after one another,” said Wawanesa’s Vice President of Culture, Community and Communications, Selena Hinds. “That’s why we’re proud to support the ICMIF Foundation’s 5-5-5 Mutual Microinsurance Strategy, which will help build more resilient communities. Wawanesa is honoured to be part of this global initiative that brings our industry together to help where it is needed most.”
The support from Co-operators and Wawanesa follows the donations made by seven other CAMIC members to support the project.
Speaking about the CAMIC appeal earlier this year, Sangita Kamblé said: “The CAMIC Board of Directors supports the launch of this initiative to encourage all CAMIC members to support those in the greatest need in rural communities in India devastated by COVID-19 by having a position of solidarity. Given that mutuality is at the forefront of CAMIC’s values, and understanding that mutuality has no borders, providing such support aligns completely with CAMIC’s value system.”
Sabbir Patel, CEO of the ICMIF Foundation said: “We are very grateful to Sangita and the members at CAMIC which have pledged to support the appeal. Mutual and community organisations are at the forefront of responses to the ongoing pandemic in emerging markets, the mutual microinsurance programme and accompanying services provided by DHAN Foundation have been critical in enabling those impacted to recover financially and emotionally from this devasting crisis.”
The DHAN Foundation is a development organisation which has been working in India since 1997 with a mission of building resilient communities and reducing poverty by impacting the livelihoods of low-income and vulnerable sections of Indian society. DHAN believes that risk management is one of the key interventions for ensuring sustainable livelihoods and therefore has developed a successful model of community-based mutual insurance to enable people to manage life, health, livestock and crop risks. As part of the ICMIF 5-5-5 Mutual Microinsurance Strategy project, DHAN Foundation and its mutual insurance entity, People Mutuals, were able to start the process of scaling up the professionalisation of pro-poor insurance products, systems and processes in 2017. The recent donations from The Co-operators and Wawensa will go towards continuing this work and help DHAN to reach one million individuals by the end of its five-year project (in 2022). Learn more about the ICMIF Foundation here.
ICMIF members wishing to donate to the ICMIF Foundation and thereby help the DHAN Foundation should contact Tina Blain, Resource Mobiliser, ICMIF Foundation.
CAMIC members wishing to donate to the DHAN Foundation appeal should contact Sangita Kamblé.
The DHAN Foundation spoke about their work supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in an ICMIF webinar earlier this year entitled Impacting the Sustainable Development Goals through mutual microinsurance. A recording of the webinar is available to ICMIF members.
