In 2021, SCBF committed over CHF 1.36 million towards 13 new projects, attaining CHF 18.26 million in grant funding committed since inception. The projects SCBF co-funded touched a variety of themes: digital transformation for effective and efficient service delivery, micro-property insurance to enhance the resilience of MSMEs and low-income households, and innovative index-based insurance to enable vulnerable smallholder farmers and households to adapt in the face of an increasingly changing climate. Additionally, SCBF’s membership grew from 25 to 27, as SCBF had the pleasure to welcome AXA and the Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy (BASE). 

SDC is a strategic partner of SCBF.

Click here for the report.

New projects: Innovating climate adaptation, financial resilience and digitalisation 

Since the last update in September 2021, SCBF has co-funded several exciting new projects: 

1. Improving adaptation to climate change

In Cambodia, the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture will work with FORTE Insurance and AMK Microfinance to launch innovative index-based insurance schemes to protect smallholders against climate risks. 

In Mozambique, Blue Marble Microinsurance and Hollard Moçambique will explore the feasibility of index insurance products to protect vulnerable populations from cyclones and excess wind.

2. Boosting financial resilience: safeguarding what matters

In India, Briisk and Care Health Insurance will focus on increasing the penetration of personal accident insurance in rural areas using technology-driven tools and partnerships. 

In Kenya, Cenfri and Britam General Insurance will scale up micro-health in-patient insurance through behaviourally informed digital distribution efforts. 

In Kenya, AB Consultants and APA Insurance will scale up micro-property insurance to MSMEs using human-centric design approaches.

3. Digital transformation

In Togo, CIF will partner with FUCEC-Togo to scale up a digital system to enable on-site depositing for savings and credit clients, alongside a focus on financial education to enhance up-take of the new solution.

                                                               *****

Thematic insights and case studies

Expanding the evidence base on the intersection between housing, finance and resilience: Findings from Indonesia and Egypt 

Innovative finance for small businesses in a (mostly) digital world

Client stories: how remote coaching helped small entrepreneurs revive their businesses during the pandemic 

The AXA Group is a global leader in insurance and asset management, serving 105 million clients in 54 countries. In 2016, AXA Emerging Customerswas launched with the vision of protecting those that have been excluded from traditional insurance due to cost, access, understanding, or trust.

In November 2021, SCBF welcomed AXA as its 27th member. To kickstart this partnership, we interviewed Garance Wattez-Richard, Head of AXA Emerging Customers,  to learn more about their work and how this new partnership can help bridge the protection gap for financial inclusion. 

In 2021, SCBF turned 10! We celebrated successes in improving the financial inclusion of 2.6 million end-clients (of whom 68% are women) by capturing lessons from the more than 159 projects we have co-funded across 47 counties, and bringing together a select group of members, partners and donors to discuss how we can work together to address the pressing challenges in expanding the financial inclusion of those furthest behind. In particular, we discussed ways to address the Pioneer Gap, which hinders the emergence of viable, impactful business models and solutions. 

Have a look at the special report on 10 years of uniting public and private partners to deliver customer-centric financial solutions and

read the blog post summarising concrete solutions on Tackling the Pioneer Gap resulting from the vibrant discussions during SCBF’s 10th anniversary celebration.

The Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF) is looking for a

Project Finance and Fundraising Officer

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Work Quota: 50%
Location: Zürich

>> more

Accounting and Administration Officer (50-80%)

Starting Date: January 2022 or by mutual agreement 

Place: Zürich, Switzerland

>> more