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Six organisations across Africa honoured at inaugural CRe Insurance Awards 2026

Six organisations from across Africa were recognised at the inaugural CRe Insurance Awards 2026 for excellence in innovation, financial inclusion and performance. The awards highlight how InsurTechs and established insurers are reshaping the continent’s insurance landscape through scale, technology and impact.
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April 23, 2026
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Recognised for excellence in innovation, financial inclusion, and commercial performance at the CRe CEO Summit in Kigali, RwandaContinental Reinsurance has announced the winners of its inaugural CRe Insurance Awards for Africa, celebrating outstanding performance across five African countries. Six organisations were recognised across two award categories: the CRe Emerging Champions Award and the CRe Momentum Award. Independent judging panel: Chakib Abouzaid, Lorraine Njue, Alex Aquereburu, Tosin Runsewe, and Steve Oluoch. Entries received: 11 in the Emerging Champions category and 17 in the Momentum category, with three finalists selected in each.

‍CATEGORY 1‍

‍CRe Emerging Champions Award‍

‍Recognising InsurTechs and microinsurance providers advancing financial inclusion, driving innovation, and delivering measurable impact across Africa.‍

‍WINNER Kenya

‍Agrails Ltd

‍Recognised for advanced technical innovation in agricultural insurance, reducing basis risk from as high as 60% to below 5% using approximately 5.2 million data points per insurance unit, against an industry baseline of around 30. Agrails scaled from 40,000 to 4.5 million insured farmers across nine countries, including more than 1.2 million people insured for the very first time. Administrative costs have been reduced by over 70% and claims processing time cut from months to days.

‍2ND PLACE Kenya

‍Britam Connect

‍Recognised for parametric insurance innovation addressing flood risk in underserved communities, achieving approximately 40% market share within the microinsurance segment. The platform also includes health and gender-focused insurance solutions, addressing multiple risk needs within vulnerable populations.

‍3RD PLACE Botswana

‍Alpha Direct Insurance

‍Recognised for a retail-based distribution model placing insurance products directly within supermarkets and partner outlets, supported by AI-enabled systems. This approach enabled growth from zero to 88,000 customers, with over 69% being first-time insurance buyers, reflecting market creation rather than market share capture. Approximately 300 agent roles have been created.

These awards highlight how innovation, inclusion, and disciplined performance are redefining insurance impact across Africa.

CRe

CATEGORY 2‍

‍CRe Momentum Award‍

‍Recognising established insurance companies demonstrating sustained performance, strategic clarity, innovation, and meaningful contribution to the broader ecosystem.‍

‍WINNER Nigeria

‍Stanbic IBTC Insurance Limited

‍Recognised for consistent commercial performance, disciplined execution, and a bancassurance model described as among the most effective on the continent, with a clear focus on life insurance. The company generated approximately $2 million in assets under management within a single year while directly supporting the creation of over 1,000 jobs. The entry met award criteria across performance, innovation, governance, and impact, with strong ESG positioning and active CSR engagement.

‍2ND PLACE Nigeria

‍Cornerstone Insurance

‍Recognised for strategic repositioning and digital investment, including AI-driven tools across underwriting and customer engagement. The company is transitioning to a retail-focused model targeting an 80/20 retail-to-corporate business mix, and expanding its agency network from approximately 1,000 to 2,000 agents. The broader group structure, including subsidiaries Fin and Hilal, demonstrates diversification and growth potential.

‍3RD PLACE Benin

‍La Generale des Assurances

‍Recognised for targeted investment in digital infrastructure, with a focus on improving operational efficiency and claims processing. The company has implemented digital platforms that streamline internal processes and enhance claims handling, a key determinant of customer trust in its market.

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