CERRRP PROJECT SUMMARY

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) Uganda’s apex body for the private sector collaborated with the Mastercard Foundation to co-implement immediate relief, recovery, and resilience interventions under the COVID-19 PSFU Response Project. The intervention’s ultimate goal was to contribute towards national efforts on safety business recovery and resilience in the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The intervention would complement the efforts of the Government of Uganda in controlling the spread of COVID-19, and support the government in developing a Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery and Growth Strategy. It would further augment the survival, recovery, and resilience of enterprises impacted by the adverse economic effects of COVID-19.

The Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program had two main goals. First, to deliver emergency support for health workers, first responders, and students. Second, to strengthen the diverse institutions that are the first line of defense against this disease's social and economic aftermath. These include universities, financial service providers, businesses, technology start-ups, incubators, government agencies, youth organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this intervention was to build a system that helps MSMEs manage the insurable risks they face in their businesses as a group or single businesses. This would be through an eco-system that collects information, provides, and equips MSMEs with relevant risk mitigation and capacity support, builds resilience through disaster/crisis mitigation mechanisms, develops MSME need-based insurance solutions, and provides continuous awareness and risk advisory and coordination services to the public.

Specifically, the activity had the following objectives;

• To increase uptake and use of insurance services among the MSMEs.
• To modify existing or develop new MSME insurance products.
• To develop MSME sector-specific disaster preparedness plans and policies.
• To conduct an awareness campaign on the available insurance products for MSMEs.
• To set up an MSME insurance and risk advisory center.

TARGET AUDIENCE. 

The target audience was the MSMEs under the PSFU membership in the Trade and Allied Services, Tourism, Construction, Manufacturing, ICT, and Agriculture sectors. 

ACTIVITIES. 

Conduct a desk review survey on MSMEs to identify the risks and potential disasters faced by MSMEs, current coping mechanisms, skills gap, and potential risk mitigation products and disseminate findings.

Develop sector-specific insurance products

Develop MSME sector-specific business continuity and disaster preparedness policies and plans. 

Conduct an MSME insurance awareness campaign to address myths and misconceptions about insurance.

Establish an MSME risk and insurance coordination center.

 MILESTONES SO FAR.

A research report documenting the barriers to the uptake of insurance products among MSMEs            was completed.

6 sector-specific insurance products were developed for the Trade and Allied Services, Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing, ICT, and Construction sectors.    

6 sector disaster preparedness policies and plans were developed. 

76 BCPs customized for the members in the Trade and Allied Services, Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing, ICT, and Construction sectors.

An insurance and risk coordination center has been established and the toll-free number is 0800 317 137.