A new generation of Ghanaian innovators is working to revolutionize insurance for underserved communities through bold, people-first solutions developed at a five-day innovation workshop organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Insurance Commission (NIC).
The workshop is part of the Inclusive Insurance Innovation Challenge (3iC), a global initiative supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and is being implemented locally to develop practical, scalable models that extend financial protection to low-income earners, informal workers, and climate-vulnerable populations.
Ten finalists, selected from across the country, include student entrepreneurs, insurtech startups, and grassroots innovators. They are receiving intensive training, mentorship, and technical support to refine insurance prototypes tailored to the needs of underserved Ghanaians.
Dr. Abiba Zakariah, Acting Commissioner of Insurance, in her opening remarks said, “be bold, be creative, you are not just building products but you are shaping Ghana’s future, we must design inclusive systems that reflect the lived realities of all citizens.”
The workshop goes beyond conventional business acceleration. Sessions focus on human-centered design, ethnographic research, and empathetic innovation, encouraging participants to understand not just the technical side of insurance, but the barriers of trust, access, and cultural fit that continue to limit its adoption in Ghana.
Abdul-Rashid Abdul-Rahaman of NIC emphasized that inclusive insurance must be viewed as a practical tool for resilience, not a form of charity.
“It’s about smart protection for people who have historically been left out. This is economic justice,” he said.
UNDP’s Dr. Amina Sammo guided the participants in developing “Inclusive Insurance Personas,” an exercise designed to help innovators identify the unique needs and risks of different target groups, like female farmers, informal market vendors, or persons with disabilities.
“When we design with empathy, we create real solutions that matter. Not just products, but empowerment,” she said.
The workshop also featured sessions on data-driven innovation, where Gideon Atairaired presented insights on how insurance exclusion is shaped by gender inequity and climate vulnerability. He challenged participants to build solutions informed by evidence and grounded in real-world impact.
“What we measure shows what we value. Ignoring excluded groups results in bad policy and missed opportunity,” he warned.
Stella Jonah, also of NIC, led a session on ethnographic tools, stressing the importance of listening and learning from the cultural and emotional drivers that influence people’s financial behavior. She noted that trust, local relevance, and language accessibility are key to driving uptake.
Participants expressed how the bootcamp has already shifted their mindset.
“I came focused on features, now I’m thinking about people,” said Kwame Appiah, a student finalist.
Fellow innovator Afia Owusu added, “I didn’t realize how much trust and community influence whether someone buys insurance. This changes how I’ll build my platform.”
The 3iC initiative is part of the broader work of UNDP’s Insurance and Risk Finance Facility, which partners with governments and innovators to embed risk financing and social protection into national development strategies.
This year’s challenge demonstrates how local ingenuity, when supported by global partnerships, can drive the next wave of financial inclusion in Africa.
“This is about changing systems,” said Dr. Sammo. “And the people in this room are the ones who will do it.”
