MiCRO

A microinsurance specialist serving populations exposed to climate change and natural disasters

Mitigating risks, empowering decisions

Microinsurance Catastrophe Risk Organisation (MiCRO) is a microinsurance specialist that develops index-based insurance products for underserved populations vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and natural disasters. 

Founded after the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, MiCRO now operates in Guatemala, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras.

In May 2024, MiCRO joined Howden's Climate Risk and Resilience division. Together, the aim is to expand access to microinsurance and support at-risk communities to build a more secure future.

What does MiCRO do?

The MiCRO team develops and implements insurance solutions that help families and microentrepreneurs cope with the consequences of climate-induced disasters, such as loss of income and additional expenses associated with recovery. 

The objective is to empower hard-hit communities to continue their productive activities and maintain their well-being. MiCRO does this by:

  • Tailoring risk transfer solutions to local community needs and intervention conditions.
  • Using a proprietary platform to calculate event occurrence and severity with satellite data and other sources.
  • Enabling cash payouts based on the severity of the events.
  • Attracting top-rated reinsurers to back products designed by MiCRO.

Additionally, MiCRO collaborates closely with partners to co-design training programs and financial education activities for clients.

This partnership aligns with Howden’s strategy to invest in innovative insurance solutions that enhance resilience in emerging markets, especially amid increasing climate catastrophes. The move will enable MiCRO to expand the range and reach of its parametric solutions through Howden’s international presence, deep access to global markets, and analytics capability.

MiCRO

180,000

Active policyholders at the end of 2023

50% +

Of MiCRO's policyholders are women and smallholder farmers

US$2 million in payouts

For tens of thousands of people in Guatemala during the 2024 rainy season

MiCRO

Pioneering solutions for vulnerable communities

In 2016, MiCRO introduced its first risk management solution to address the risks faced by small farmers and microentrepreneurs in Guatemala.

With swift payouts determined by the level of the disaster’s severity rather than a traditional loss adjustment, it helps clients quickly recover from additional costs and burdens of catastrophes.

MiCRO's solutions, developed in collaboration with local partners, have made Guatemala a model for insuring vulnerable communities against climate-related risks

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“In the face of the global challenge posed by climate change, it is essential that we empower marginalised communities with access to the correct insurance cover to cope with the volatility of tomorrow.”
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Carlos Boelsterli, CEO, MiCRO

Learn more about MiCRO

Access MiCRO's website

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What to do if you are experiencing financial difficulties

We recognise that the current economic conditions are putting pressure on many households and businesses. At Howden, we are committed to finding ways to assist our customers who may require additional support during these times.

If you’re currently facing financial difficulty, please speak to us about your insurance policies by:-

-contacting your Howden Service Team; 
-calling Howden on 020 7623 3806;
-using the Enquiry form.

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