AFRO-NETS> RFI: Contacts for inventory of mutual benefit societies

[Philippe Swennen <philippe.swennen@aim-mutual.org>]

RFI: Contacts for inventory of mutual benefit societies
-------------------------------------------------------
(non-profit, solidarity, health or pension bodies)
 
Dear friends,
 
We are an international association of 42 federations of mutual 
health funds in 32 countries, mainly in Europe, but also in Africa, 
Mahgreb, Latin America and the Middle East. 
 
Our association AIM (International Association of Mutual Health So-
cieties) takes part with ISSA (International Social Security Associa-
tion) and the ILO in a survey on the mutual benefit societies (pri-
vate, non-profit making organizations providing social protection) in 
the world, specifically for these countries: 
 
South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, Le-
sotho, Malawi, Angola, Zambia and Madagascar, Mauritius, and Comoros. 
 
We are seeking contacts in these countries that could help us for the 
survey on the mutual benefit societies.
 
Does anyone have interesting contacts in this field in these coun-
tries, ministries, federation, Board, Union of organisations in this 
field, religious organisations.... and can give me some name or in-
stitution and their addresses and mails? 
 
Thank you very much in advance.
 
Best regards
Philippe Swennen
 
--
Questionnaire for private, non-profit making organizations providing 
social protection - ISSA Technical Commission on Mutual Benefit So-
cieties
 
Which organizations does the questionnaire target?
 
The questionnaire targets non-profit-making groups whose aim is to 
ward off the consequences of various social contingencies affecting 
members and their families: sickness, inability to work as a result 
of ill health or accident, invalidity, old age, death, etc.
 
These organizations combine the two basic principles of insurance and 
solidarity.
 
They practise the risk pooling (or community rating): their combined 
contributions cover the risks of individual members. Thus, members 
pay a sum which is defined in advance in return for precise benefits 
if the risk becomes a reality, rather than having to pay out excep-
tional amounts in unexpected circumstances.
 
Such organizations do not risk selection by excluding those who have 
a high risk factor, neither do they base their contribution rates on 
the level of risk presented by a particular member (no risk rating).
 
These organizations are non-profit-making: management surpluses are 
retained and used solely for common purposes. They may, for example, 
be used to increase financial reserves in order to meet possible in-
creased contingency costs, to improve existing services or to meet 
additional needs on the part of their members, or perhaps to reduce 
contribution rates.
 
Dr Philippe Swennen
Project Manager
AIM
Rue d'Arlon, 50
B-1000 Brussels Belgium
Tel: +322-234-5704
Fax: +322-234-5708
http://www.aim-mutual.org
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