CII and ASSAR Partner to Strengthen Professional Standards in Rwanda's Insurance Sector
Skills and Competencies
(Copyright, CII, reproduced with kind permission)
Pictured: Pamela Umutesi, ASSAR Managing Director, Isaac Olubitan, the Regional Director Africa, America, Caribbean and Europe at CII and Andrew Kulayige ASSAR Chairperson.
A new partnership between the CII and Rwanda's insurance sector aims to strengthen professional standards and build the skills that underpin trust in insurance.
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Association of Insurers in Rwanda (ASSAR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding, bringing together the CII's expertise in professional standards, qualifications and development with ASSAR's knowledge of Rwanda's insurance market.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will work together to understand the development needs of Rwanda's insurance sector, map skills and competencies and identify standards and qualifications for different roles.
They will specifically look at certification pathways for insurance agents, with initial scoping already starting on a localised learning module for around 600 insurance agents in Rwanda.
The partnership follows engagement between the CII and the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), the country's insurance regulator, which began during a visit by BNR representatives to the CII in 2025. BNR has continued to support the engagement in a facilitation role, with ASSAR leading the partnership on behalf of Rwanda's insurance industry.
Holly Porter, Executive Director for Markets and Opportunities at the CII, said: "It is the same the world over that professional standards build trust. By investing in skills, qualifications and continuing professional development, we can help build the expertise that enables insurance professionals to deliver for the people, businesses and communities they serve.
"We're delighted to be working with ASSAR to support the continued development of Rwanda's insurance profession. By combining local insight with the CII's expertise in professional standards and learning, we have an opportunity to build professional capability that can support confidence in insurance for the long term."
Pamela Umutesi, Managing Director at ASSAR, said: "Skills build trust. This MoU with the CII UK is a major step to professionalise our industry. By setting minimum competency standards and bringing world-class qualifications to Kigali, we are investing in our people and building greater trust with the Rwandan public."
