Three members of staff from supporting partners of the ICMIF 5-5-5 Mutual Microinsurance Strategy: Blair White of The Co-operators, Canada; and Carina Bodesand and Johan Nyman of Länsförsäkringar in Sweden(all pictured), travelled to India in November 2017 to participate in the first annual review meeting of the Uplift project.

The 5-5-5 project in India officially launched in August 2016 with local ICMIF member Uplift Mutuals and is supported by The Cooperators (Canada) and Länsförsäkringar (Sweden), also members of ICMIF, which are both providing significant financial assistance to help Uplift bring affordable healthcare insurance to two large cities in India, Mumbai and Pune.

The aim of this annual review meeting was to ensure that the project is progressing in line with the previously agreed business plan, and also to consider what is currently working well and discuss challenges faced so far. It was also the first opportunity for the three ICMIF member representatives to visit Uplift and see the project in action on-the-ground.

The official programme of the visit began on the morning of Monday 13 November at Uplift’s offices, with a presentation by Kumar Shailabh, Uplift’s Executive Director. This was followed by a field visit where Blair, Carina, and Johan met with policyholders, and visited a health camp with Uplift field staff to gain an insight into one of the risk reduction services provided to Uplift members. The review meeting itself took place on Wednesday 15 November. The visit concluded on Thursday 16 November with a presentation from Tieto, Uplift’s technology partners, where the three visitors had the chance to explore Uplift’s recently launched mobile application and management information system.

Johan Nyman, Chef Sakförsäkringsservice (Head of Non-Life Services and Development), Länsförsäkringar said: “We had a great time during our visit and really learnt a lot. It was really impressive to see the efforts of both Uplift and ICMIF on-the-ground and really making a difference to the lives of those living in the most vulnerable communities.”

Speaking on behalf of The Co-operators, Blair White, Director, Group Sales, explains: “Without a doubt, meeting with policyholders helped me to understand the true impact of the project. I was particularly interested to hear about the great work Uplift is doing with Tieto to utilise technology to increase efficiency in service, and also very impressed to see first-hand Uplift’s work on preventive healthcare.”

Carina Bodesand, CSR and Business Support, Non-Life Insurance, Länsförsäkringar, explains why her organisation is proud to support the 5-5-5 project: “As a supporter of the 5-5-5, I think we have a great opportunity to be part of this very important project. Uplift are working very closely with their members, and I think that’s what is most important, that they are really close to the ones who need help the most. The insurance sector needs to be part of solving this protection gap, and it’s time that we come together and help each other, mutual to mutual.”

Kumar Shailabh commented: “It was a pleasure to meet with our supporters in person, and I hope that they found the experience as valuable as myself and our team members did. The Uplift 5-5-5 project has come such a long way since it was first launched just over a year ago, and I felt proud and motivated that our supporters had the opportunity to see the impact of their financial assistance first hand.”

Sabbir Patel, CEO and Managing Director, ICMIF Foundation, said: “We are very grateful to our two ICMIF members The Co-operators and Länsförsäkringar AB for sending their staff to participate in the annual review of the project. It is a great opportunity for them to understand the project and the market Uplift are trying to serve.”

The 5-5-5 Strategy aims to provide mutual microinsurance solutions to 5 million low-income households, in five emerging markets (India, Philippines, Kenya, Colombia and Sri Lanka) over a five year period. It is hoped that this will equate to 25 million previously uninsured people having insurance cover as a result.