UNEP PSI’s V20 Sustainable Insurance Facility held a panel discussion regarding climate-smart insurance. Brandon Mathews, Global Coordinator for the V20 Sustainable Insurance Facility, hosted a webinar with Manoj Pandey, the initiative’s Asia Pacific regional coordinator, speaking with industry leaders in the region to uncover the significant challenges inhibiting access to insurance for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises in climate-vulnerable nations.
Panellists:
Yannick Milev, CEO of Chamroeun microfinance plc.
Yannick has a Maitrise in Sociology from Université Paris V, René Descartes, and an MSc in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.
Mr Milev started his career in a small Ghanaian town, setting up and running and NGO focused on women’s empowerment, using a range of reproductive health and economic empowerment tools, including microfinance. He thereafter went on to work across a range of countries in Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia, across a number of NGO and microfinance initiatives. The microfinance institution he leads serves 80% of women and is a licensed referral agent for a microinsurance company., currently offering health, PA and term life bundles. Yannick has been based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for the past 10 years.
Ny Lyhoung, Business Unit Head/CEO, Micro and Agriculture Insurance
Ny Lyhoung is the Business Unit Head/CEO, Micro and Agriculture Insurance. Lyhoung has 17 years of experience in insurance since he joined Forte in 2006 as an Executive Trainee, and has flourished in various roles from Assistant Manager for the Specialist Lines Department, Portfolio Manager for Accident & Health as well as Micro Insurance and Agriculture Insurance, before becoming General Manager for Forte Microinsurance Plc.
Lyhoung holds a Master of Business in Finance from Charles Sturt University, Australia, and an Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII) with Chartered Insurer status and Associateship of Malaysian Insurance Institute (AMII). He was also awarded a full scholarship to complete his BBA in Finance & Banking from National University of Management, Cambodia. He has recently gained a Fellow Certification with the Life Office Management Association (LOMA), USA.
Rafkat Kabir, Strategy and Implementation Team Lead, BRAC Microfinance.
Mr Kabir has 14 years of diverse sector experience. He spearheads strategic partnerships, designs innovative financial products, and ensures their successful execution at the field level, all to strengthen BRAC Microfinance’s MSME portfolio. He currently leads initiatives critical to MSME resilience and sustainable growth, including Affordable Housing Loans, Green Financing, Youth Financing, and Commute Financing. In his capacity, Rafkat prioritizes rigorous risk analysis and mitigation in the development and execution of these initiatives.
Prior to joining BRAC, Rafkat spent nine years in housing finance and three years in brand marketing. This experience equipped him to connect effectively with beneficiaries and gather in-depth customer insights that he now translates into strategic planning and execution.