AMUCSS has offered micro life insurance since 2005 on a small scale and in partnership with private companies. This project builds on this previous learning experience together with a strong and innovative network to market and deliver the products.
AMUCSS plans to establish, through a strategic alliance with rural organizations and private insurance companies, an innovative delivery model to distribute microinsurance products to indigenous communities in remote areas. Presently these services are almost nonexistent for the concerned stakeholders. The project includes the development of a microinsurance network that integrates all key actors, the delivery of a tailored product for low income people, education for consumers and operators, and applied research.
AMUCSS will liaise between community organizations and the insurance industry to help the latter understand the risk management needs of its members, and also negotiate with the insurers to develop and offer relevant products to the rural poor. This initiative additionally includes use of technology such as pre-paid cards and mobile banking to transfer small amounts of money to expand outreach and efficiency.
AMUCSS will collaborate with Agroasemex – a Mexican based academic institution - University of California at Berkeley and at Los Angeles (UCLA) to develop and implement their research agenda.
In this project, AMUCSS expects to serve 100.000 families in remote and marginalized areas in Mexico. The project will target rural populations – especially indigenous – who are not yet covered due to remote locations, local language barriers, and lack of resources.
The Asociación Mexicana de Uniones de Crédito del Sector Social A.C. (AMUCSS), a not for profit organization, was established in 1992 by a dozen of credit unions specialised in rural finance. The mission of the organization is to contribute to better financial services in rural areas by creating, strengthening, and expanding local financial institutions with a strong link within the communities. AMUCSS supports a variety of institutions including a network of rural credit unions, self-insurance funds, and micro banks in different regions of Mexico. AMUCSS has also developed in the last 10 years a recognised capability in rural microfinance. AMUCSS works with more than 65 partners coming from private, academic, government or grass roots organizations, credit unions and cooperatives.
