In the last decade, some insurance associations (IAs) have expanded beyond their traditional core functions to develop insurance consumer education (ICE) programmes. Based on a review of the experiences of IAs in five countries, namely Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Mexico and South Africa, Microinsurance Paper #31 discusses the steps that should be taken during the preparation of an ICE. These include assigning responsibility internally, defining funding mechanisms, setting clear goals, defining the programme target and identifying partnership opportunities. It goes on to summarize key lessons for...

Gender equality is gaining increasing attention as illustrated by the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG number 3): “promote gender equality and empower women”. This goal was set after the realisation that women and men face the same obstacles but have unequal access to resources enabling them to overcome these obstacles: unequal access to resources, education, technology, labour, capital and credit.