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Insurance brokers/advisors for Human-Elephant Coexistence (HEC) project

Location                         Desk based, with some in person meetings and limited site visits 

Contract Form               Fixed Value Consultancy  

Department                   Sustainable Business & Finance 

Directorate                    Conservation & Policy 

Responsible to              Country Manager 

Technical report             Project Coordinator / Project Manager

Approved by                  Head of Department 

Budget: 110,000 per annum

Contracting Period: January 2024 – March 2025

Study period – 2 years

Project Overview:

We are seeking qualified insurance brokers, insurance advisory firms, or individuals with extensive knowledge in insurance to participate in a comprehensive project focusing on Human-Elephant Coexistence (HEC) in targeted forest areas in Thailand. The project aims to develop viable insurance schemes to alleviate the financial burden of HEC on local farming communities. Responsibilities will include calculating actuarial data and insurance premiums, , and the establishment of pilot insurance schemes with appropriate insurance companies.

The United Kingdom’s ZSL is partnering with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) to implement HEC and insurance in Thailand. In Thailand our partners are the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) and civil society experts in elephant conservation and management, including Ecoexist Society.

The selected insurance advisor/consultant will work closely with both ZSL and IIED to focus on Human-Elephant Coexistence (HEC) and explore the role of insurance in mitigating its associated challenges. The advisor/consultant should be available for limited travel to different forest complexes for data collection and meetings.

Responsibilities:

Calculate willingness to pay for insurance and potential demand:

• Support focus group discussion survey design to collect data necessary for designing insurance products. These focus groups will identify and assess willingness to pay (WTP) premiums, insurance eligibility, existing financial support mechanisms, and feasibility of crop protection compliance.

Calculate actuarial risks and premiums for potential insurance products:

• Work with the Office of the Insurance Commission to obtain relevant data from public sector and civil society partners to identify the frequency of HEC including to life, injury, property and crops. Use this data to calculate actuarial risks and premiums for premiums for potential insurance products.

Identify monitoring and verification approaches:

• Identify use of technology (e.g. mobiles, drones) with local people, government and private sector (e.g., plantation companies) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of monitoring compliance with potential insurance schemes. 

Identify financing mechanisms and insurance company partnerships:

• Facilitate interviews and meetings with insurance agencies, public sector, and financial institutions to evaluate buy-in and feasibility of various insurance schemes.

Product Development with relevant insurance companies in line with regulations:

• Collaborate closely with private insurance companies, Thai authorities (Thailand General Insurance Association) and IIED (International Institute for Environment and Development) to identify feasible HEC insurance schemes and assist in designing insurance products.

Thai Legal compliance

The consultant will be responsible for the payment of all taxes and charges associated with the works. 

Qualifications:

• At least 5 years or more extensive experience and knowledge in the field of insurance
• having a degree in one of these fields is preferred but not strictly required, especially if the candidate has substantial practical experience in the areas of insurance, risk assessment, or conservation. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in one of the following fields:

• Insurance or Risk Management
• Agricultural Economics
• Environmental Science or Conservation Biology
• Business Administration with a focus on Finance or Project Management

Knowledge:

• Insurance Industry: Understanding of insurance product development and relevant agencies, including OIC and TGIA.
• Risk Assessment: Familiarity with agricultural or environmental risk methods.
• Regulatory Environment: Basic grasp of Thailand's insurance regulations.

• Local Context: Awareness of challenges in Thailand's HEC-affected areas. Familiarity with agriculture and wildlife conservation issues.

Skills:

• Analytical: Strong analytical and data interpretation skills. Ability to conduct focus groups and interviews

• Communication: Clear written and spoken communication in English and Thai.

Application Procedure:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their profile (or) CV and a cover letter outlining their suitability for the project. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Application Deadline:

The application deadline is 20^th February 2024

Application Process:

Applicants will need to upload their CV and cover letter (detailing relevant experience and skills, stating why they want the position with details of availability) and can do this by clicking the "Apply for this job online" button. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please contact  juliana.masseloux@zsl.org