AB Entheos at ICII 2026: Human-wildlife conflict and the case for insurance for nature
The International Conference on Inclusive Insurance (ICII) is back in Africa, after two editions in Asia and Latin America, respectively. For Africa-based organisations, such as AB Entheos, working on insurance for the underserved, the ICII offers a prime-time opportunity to showcase their work. AB Entheos has been specialising in insurance for nature and has convened a panel session on this increasingly important topic at this year’s event. Ahead of the conference, Anne Kamau and Barbara Chesire spoke about why the ICII matters to their work and what their panel will cover.
Why is the ICII important for organisations such as AB Entheos?
For Anne, the ICII is good for sharing knowledge and learning among like-minded practitioners: to see what’s working in other markets, what’s not working and why. “It’s also good for networking and social capital development, especially because our work is unique. That’s where a lot of our important conversations happen”, Anne exclaims.
Barbara points to a second and related reason: their stance. “We are positioning ourselves as a thought leader in insurance for nature. For that, you should be in the room, talking to other people about what you’re doing”, she says. Having African voices in the right rooms, telling the African story, is essential. Micro-insurance and inclusive insurance are products that really need to be sold in most countries in Africa – this has still not radically changed
What can attendees learn from AB Entheos’ panel session on Wednesday 21 October?
The session will cover one of the most pressing risks facing African communities: human-wildlife conflict. “In Africa, most wildlife live outside protected areas. Communities interact with wildlife daily, incurring losses to their livelihoods”, says Anne. The session will aim to determine who is responsible for managing this risk – one that is relevant in other parts of the world.
Barbara, who will be moderating the session, explains further how the panel will widen the lens beyond Africa. This includes showcasing global experiences of how insurance is being used to protect nature-based risks in Asia and Latin America. “We’ll have voices from policy, from a funder, and from a multilateral development partner. AB Entheos will be talking about our own experience in Kenya, Zambia and Gabon”, Barbara said.
“Beyond the networking, the knowledge and the insighftful discussions, our membership of the Microinsurance Network adds a further benefit of being at the ICII: the member meeting and member’s evening are a highlight.”
Barbara Chesire (Managing Director) and Anne Kamau (Executive Director) AB Entheos
What has the AB Entheos team learnt from the past two ICII events?
The ICII is an important annual calendar fixture for the AB Entheos team. For Barbara, one particular ICII stands out. The AB Entheos team had been in discussion with a potential funder via email and a video call. However, these exchanges were not leading to instant trust. “The fact that we met in person in Nepal (during ICII 2024) broke all the ice we’d had in the conversations, and it accelerated us being able to unlock funding from that organisation”, Barbara explained.
Anne and Barbara at ICII 2024 Nepal
Like Barbara, Anne also highlights a standout ICII. Given that the inclusive insurance is relatively tightly knit, Anne knew several industry counterparts – but not that well. By finding herself staying at the same hotel as the head of a major international organisation, she was able to have a proper chat. “That conversation led to several projects we’ve run over the past two years. This includes supporting Nepal’s insurance regulator on microinsurance regulation, training sessions in several African countries, and co-developing a knowledge product on insurance for nature”, said Anne.
What would a successful ICII 2026 look like for AB Entheos?
“For me, it’s getting a spotlight on insurance for nature, and eventually more people interested in investing in it – such as the large insurers”, says Barbara. It’s taken Anne and Barbara a long time to get insurance for nature onto the ICII agenda. Their panel is the outcome of around three years of pitching to the organisers that insurance for nature should be given a platform. A successful ICII for AB Entheos would mean that spotlight, more investment and more people simply knowing that this interesting side of insurance exists.
Where or how can people meet the AB Entheos team on the ground in Kigali?
Alongside Anne and Barbara, AB Entheos is bringing a small team to Kigali:
Oversees the human-wildlife conflict initiative across Africa.
Manages the organisation’s nature claims and works directly with affected communities.
Responsible for setting up the AB Entheos Edge Innovation Lab.
Conference participants can meet the AB Entheos team during the ICII. The team intends to be visible during the entire event. Just look out for the branded attire! Specific points to meet the team include:
- Before or after their panel session on Wednesday 21 October at 11 am
- During the Microinsurance Network member meeting and members’ evening on Thursday 22 October
- At Off the record – Kigali 2026 on Monday 19 October (evening)
Click here to meet the AB Entheos team at the ICII 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda
