Inclusive Insurance in Rwanda

A Strong Foundation for the Continued Development of Inclusive Insurance

Rwanda is a country with significant potential for inclusive insurance development. A strong political will to develop financial services and support resilience within the population has been demonstrated through various initiatives implemented in the country. Rwanda's achievements around financial inclusion and health insurance coverage provide a foundation on which insurers can develop inclusive insurance.

• Rwanda, “Land of a Thousand Hills”, is a landlocked country with a predominantly young, rural population.
• Droughts and floods have caused famine, population displacement, and erosion and destruction of infrastructure. The country is vulnerable to climate change which is expected to increase the frequency of these disasters. Various initiatives have been launched to mitigate these risks.
• The government introduced a solidarity health insurance scheme in 1999 which has successfully provided health insurance to much of the population.
• Rwanda has recently launched a subsidised national agriculture insurance scheme, in partnership with private insurers.
• The country has a high financial inclusion rate. Informal financial services contribute significantly to increasing financial inclusion of women and the population in rural areas.