European Microfinance Award 2025 Opens Applications: “Building Resilience through Inclusive Insurance”
The European Microfinance Award (EMA) 2025 is now accepting applications from financial institutions and organizations worldwide that enable low-income and vulnerable people to build resilience and manage risk thanks to inclusive and effective insurance.
In a world where climate-related disasters displace over 30 million people annually and economic shocks continue to push vulnerable families deeper into poverty, traditional coping mechanisms like savings and community support often prove insufficient during widespread crises. The choice of this year’s theme reflects the urgent need to expand access to affordable and tailored insurance solutions for those who need them most. While insurance isn’t typically a priority for low-income households with competing financial demands, it represents a critical yet underutilized tool in building long-term resilience. With the global microinsurance market currently serving only 12% of its potential 3 billion customers, this award aims to highlight innovative approaches that overcome barriers of affordability, accessibility, and trust to provide essential financial protection against unpredictable events.
This year’s award focuses on “Building Resilience through Inclusive Insurance,” highlighting initiatives that provide effective risk management tools to underserved communities. The winner will receive a €100,000 prize, with each runner-up receiving €10,000.
Organizations interested in applying can access the Award Guidelines on the European Microfinance Award website. The e-MFP team will host three Application Guidance Sessions: in English on March 25, 2025, at 10:00 CET, in Spanish the same day at 16:00 CET, and in French on March 26 at 16:00 CET, to review the application process and answer questions from potential applicants. Registration is required to participate; you can find the links to register here.
Key Dates:
- Application Opens: March 12, 2025
- Application Guidance Sessions: March 25, 2025 and March 26, 2025
- Application Deadline: April 10, 2025, 23:59 CET
- Award Ceremony: November 13, 2025
The European Microfinance Award, initiated in 2005, has a dual mission of rewarding excellence and disseminating best practices within the inclusive finance sector. Each year, the award focuses on a specific theme addressing critical areas in financial inclusion.
The Award is granted by the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs – Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, with the competition and award ceremony jointly organized by the Ministry, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP), and the Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg (InFiNe.lu). In 2025, the organizers have joined forces with the Microinsurance Network, to leverage their knowledge of this topic.
For more information and to apply, please visit our “About the Award” page.
About the European Microfinance Award
Founded in 2005, the European Microfinance Award recognizes excellence in inclusive finance initiatives. It focuses each year on a different theme to highlight critical areas such as climate change resilience, technology in financial inclusion, and women’s empowerment. The Award serves two parallel goals: rewarding excellence and collecting and disseminating relevant practices for replication.
About the Organizers
The Award is granted by the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs – Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, with the competition and award ceremony jointly organized by the Ministry, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP), and the Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg (InFiNe.lu).
Media Contact
For questions regarding the EMA application process:
European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP)
39, rue Glesener
L-1631 Luxembourg
T. +352 26 27 13
EMAward@e-mfp.eu
www.e-mfp.eu
For questions regarding the EMA ceremony:
InFiNe.lu (Inclusive Finance Network Luxembourg) a.s.b.l
39, rue Glesener
L-1631 Luxembourg
T. +352 28 37 15 09
contact@infine.lu
www.infine.lu