Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority calls for greater innovation and technology use to expand insurance access

The Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority has urged insurance sector stakeholders to strengthen innovation and the use of technology to widen public access to insurance services. In remarks opening the Tanzania R3Lab workshop on insurance innovation in Dar es Salaam, Insurance Commissioner Baghayo A. Saqware said innovation is no longer optional for the sector given technological change and shifting customer expectations, with consumers needing insurance products that are affordable, accessible, transparent and suited to their needs. The update links that push to persistently low insurance usage across many African countries, including Tanzania, and points to innovation as a way to reach underserved groups such as women, young people, smallholder farmers, and small and medium-sized enterprises. It also identifies key obstacles including weak innovation infrastructure, limited collaboration between insurers and technology providers, and shortcomings in the regulatory framework for new technologies. TIRA said it remains committed to creating an enabling regulatory environment that supports innovation while protecting customers and insurance market stability, and workshop discussions included the possible establishment of a regulatory sandbox for Tanzania's insurance sector to allow new solutions to be tested safely. The workshop runs from 13 to 14 May 2026, and participants were asked to contribute ideas and recommendations for building a more modern, inclusive and technology-enabled insurance sector.