MICROFINANCE EVENT: The Potential and Limitations of Index-based Weather Insurance: Mali and Peru – a Microfinance Learning and Innovation Seminar from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), June 24th 2009

Event Name: The Potential and Limitations of Index-based Weather Insurance: Mali and Peru

Event Description: This session will discuss the potential and limitations of index-based weather insurance in Mali and Peru.

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Cost: Free. Seating is limited so reserve a seat or participate remotely via webinar or phone.

Summary of Event: The case of Peru will be examined as index-based weather insurance has been introduced here. Pre-feasibility work in Mali will also be presented in order to understand whether index-based weather insurance has potential here.

Background on Organizer: The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) microfinance and microenterprise development news-source, microLINKS, is hosting this seminar series. USAID’s Microenterprise Development office provides technical assistance, training, program strategies and designs for small producers and firms to establish, grow, and integrate into markets and value chains. Training is offered in the areas of microfinance; rural, value-chain, and housing finance; micro-insurance; remittances; microfinance in post-conflict areas; value chain and cluster development; and trade and agribusiness. USAID’s provides over USD 200 million annually to microfinance programs in over 70 countries where work is conducted through implementing partners. The MicroLinks website has learning tools and resources to link knowledge with practice. It includes discussion forums, e-conferences, research and events.

Event Themes and Discussion Topics: This session will discuss the potential and limitations of index-based weather insurance in Mali and Peru. It will focus on agricultural insurance in developing countries and whether index-based weather insurance is needed. Index-based weather insurance makes payments based on independent measures, such as rainfall. The seminar will focus on whether this form of insurance is appropriate in developing countries where the use of an index may avoid many of the costs associated with assessing losses directly.

Who Is Invited to Attend: Everyone

About the Presenters: Jerry Skees is the President of GlobalAgRisk Inc. and an HB Price Professor at the University of Kentucky. Since 1992 he has led the research and development of the first index insurance program for the United States – the Group Risk Plan. In 2001, he founded GlobalAgRisk to extend his international work and to place it in a policy and market development framework. He is leading the GlobalAgRisk team to continually evolve and clarify how index insurance can best be used.

Online Registration Address: Send an e-mail to afterhours@qedgroupllc.com to reserve a seat. Attend the webinar online or participate by phone by registering at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/162897035

For additional information, please contact:

Contact Name: After Hours Seminar Coordinator

Telephone/Location: Telephone contact details have not been provided.

Email: afterhours@qedgroupllc.com

Submit Your Event: http://microfinanceassociation.ning.com/events

Event Type: Seminar

Event Starts (time and day): 4:00pm Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Event Ends (time and day): 5:00pm Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Location: TheQED Group, LLC

Street: 1250 Eye Street, NW, 11th Floor

City/Town: Washington, DC 20005

Website: http://www.microlinks.org/ev_en.php?ID=39232_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC