亚开行-解决太平洋地区妇女的保险差距（英）-2025.7_50页_1mb

Addressing Insurance Gaps for Women in the Pacific: Summary

Overview

Women are key to economic activity in the Pacific region, particularly in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with approximately 90% operating in the informal sector. Despite their economic contributions, women face significant barriers in accessing insurance, which limits their resilience to disasters and climate risks, affecting both business continuity and personal security. This report examines the gaps and proposes tailored insurance market solutions for women in the Pacific.

Key Findings

Demand for Insurance by Women Entrepreneurs

• Women entrepreneurs predominantly operate in climate-sensitive sectors, facing risks like natural disasters, limited access to finance, and care responsibilities.
• Their roles as household financial managers and community resource providers position them as ideal entry points for insurance expansion.
• Lower participation rates in formal finance and limited access to insurance exacerbate business vulnerabilities during crises.

Current Insurance Market

• The Pacific region has one of the lowest insurance penetration rates globally (Fiji: 3.8%, PNG: 1.4%), with a majority of insurance being traditional and geared toward high-income earners.
• Climate-related insurance is nearly non-existent due to high risk and reinsurance costs.
• Informal coping mechanisms (e.g., savings groups, community support) are insufficient during large-scale shocks.

Key Recommendations

For Governments

1. Develop inclusive policies: Create regulatory frameworks that promote affordable, gender-responsive insurance products.
2. Harmonize regulations: Ensure consistent regulatory standards across Pacific island countries to enable regional-scale insurance solutions.
3. Support sex-disaggregated data collection: Use data to design tailored products and monitor insurance uptake.
4. Subsidize premiums: Reduce barriers for low-income women by offering subsidies or co-funding.

For Insurance Providers

1. Design gender-sensitive products: Create affordable options like parametric insurance, bundled policies, and microinsurance tailored to women’s risks.
2. Adopt inclusive distribution channels: Partner with community-based organizations, microfinance institutions, and retailers to reach underserved populations.
3. Invest in insurtech: Leverage digital tools (e.g., mobile payment, digital claims) to improve accessibility and efficiency.
4. Enhance financial literacy: Educate women on insurance benefits through community-based awareness campaigns.

For Development Partners

1. Enable evidence-based reforms: Support policy dialogue and market studies to inform inclusive insurance strategies.
2. Promote innovative pilot programs: Fund gender-responsive insurance pilots to test feasibility and profitability.
3. Strengthen regulatory sandboxes: Allow insurers to experiment with new product designs and distribution models.

Conclusions

Addressing the insurance gaps for women in the Pacific requires a collaborative approach among insurers, governments, development partners, and communities. By tailoring products to women’s unique risks and leveraging their economic roles, the region can build more inclusive and resilient insurance markets, enhancing women’s economic empowerment and overall stability.