Originally published by ICMIF.
31 March 2026
The ICMIF Foundation has released its 2025 Impact Report, marking a decade of work to expand mutual microinsurance to underserved communities across the global south. This year’s results highlight significant growth, strengthened partnerships, and deepening climate resilience efforts, all driven by the Foundation’s mission to build more resilient communities.
A decade of scaling inclusive insurance
In his foreword, ICMIF Foundation CEO Sabbir Patel reflects on the vision first set out in 2015 by Dr Jaime Aristotle “Aris” Alip, founder of CARD MBA in the Philippines. The report notes that Dr Alip “firmly instilled the belief that cooperative and mutual microinsurance can reach millions of underserved, low-income people in an impactful and sustainable way”. Dr Alip continues to guide the Foundation as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Microinsurance Committee.
Despite the progress, Patel emphasises that the work is far from finished, saying: “Many more millions are falling into the poverty trap every year due to increasing social protection gaps, economic instability and increasing climate-related events.”
Strong growth and expanding reach
The Foundation reports 3.8 million policies issued in 2025, protecting 19 million lives across partner countries including Kenya, Malawi, India, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. Most policies were delivered through the 5-5-5 Mutual Microinsurance Strategy, with additional growth from the UNDP–ICMIF Insurance Innovation Challenge and CLIMBS Weather Protect Insurance (WPI).
Real‑world impact: stories from communities protected by mutual microinsurance
In Malawi, CIC Insurance Malawi’s Kangachepe Group Funeral Insurance is transforming how low‑income families manage loss. As Mexter Ng’oma of the Ephangweni Cooperative explains: “Before this, we faced challenges in bidding farewell to our loved ones… Now, Kangachepe enables us to have a dignified burial ceremony. We are adequately compensated and better prepared.”
In Sri Lanka, SANASA Life Insurance’s Labandi Ran Wasi (LRS) product is giving women entrepreneurs the security they need to sustain their livelihoods. Cinnamon farmer Mangala Muthamali shared that: “having a policy that fits our monthly income is very important… we are grateful to SANASA Life Insurance for introducing this policy and for treating people like us well.”
In the Philippines, the Microinsurance MBA Association’s replication of the mutual benefit association model is helping families avoid debt during life’s most difficult moments. One beneficiary described how a claims payout eased the burden after her mother’s passing: “My mother was buried knowing that she left us with no debts or problems, knowing that the insurance benefit we paid for was secure.”
Advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The Foundation’s work directly contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including No Poverty, Good Health and Well‑Being, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities, and Climate Action. The report highlights how inclusive insurance prevents vulnerable families from falling deeper into poverty and strengthens women-led community institutions.
Strengthening climate resilience through innovation
A major focus of this year’s report is the expansion of CLIMBS Weather Protect Insurance (WPI) — a blockchain-enabled parametric crop insurance product developed with IBISA. The product now covers 233,561 farmer-members, including more than 86,000 women.
CLIMBS President and CEO Noel Raboy emphasised the importance of global collaboration saying: “We are particularly grateful to the ICMIF Foundation… connecting us with the right partners, especially in relation to blockchain technology.”
South-to-south learning: mutuals helping mutuals
The report also highlights technical exchanges between CARD MBA (Philippines) and CIC Insurance Group (Kenya and Malawi). These visits provided hands-on learning in governance, product design, actuarial sustainability, and operational improvements, strengthening microinsurance ecosystems across regions.
Looking ahead
As the Foundation enters its second decade, its commitment remains clear: to expand affordable, community-driven insurance solutions that protect lives, livelihoods, and futures.
Download the report here.
The ICMIF Foundation Mutual Microinsurance Network Seminar 2026
The ICMIF Foundation has announced its inaugural Mutual Microinsurance Network Seminar which will be held on 17-19 June 2026 in Metro Manila (Philippines), hosted by ICMIF member CARD MBA, a member of CARD MRI. Find out more about the event here.