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The UNDP-Milliman Global Actuarial Initiative

A partnership to grow the actuarial profession and strengthen safety nets worldwide

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The objective of GAIN

Enhance global sustainable development through the expansion of actuarial capacity and expertise in low and middle income countries.

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Contributing to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals

Healthy economies need insurance, and insurance needs actuaries
to help quantify risk. But in many low and middle-income countries, the actuarial profession is just emerging.

That’s why Milliman and the United Nations Development Programme's Insurance and Risk Finance Facility launched the Global Actuarial Initiative (GAIN) in September 2022. Through this partnership, volunteers support in-country activities around the world for universities, insurers and governments through training and mentorship.

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What's an actuary, anyway?

Actuaries are professionals who use math and statistics to measure risk. In low and middle income countries, actuaries develop insurance products to help farmers protect crops and cattle, and to help communities recover from floods, fires, and other natural catastrophes. They can help establish effective auto and life insurance markets. Actuaries help bring safety nets and financial security to a world at risk. Watch this video to learn more. (Available languages: English, Amharic)

GAIN's work around the world

GAIN is on the ground in a growing number of countries with programs being delivered by the UNDP Insurance and Risk Finance Facility.

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Stay updated with GAIN's latest progress

GAIN’s 2025 wrapped
December 2025

Webinars

 

IAA-GAIN Webinar: Precision for protection? Actuary’s edge in microinsurance pricing

This webinar explores the vital role actuaries play in the microinsurance sector.

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Understanding and financially managing risks to build resilience

This joint UNDP and Milliman event unpacks the strains of colliding crises on current risk management toolkits. Insurers, regulators, actuaries, and development organisations will share insights and tools for decision-makers on better understanding and managing risks. Areas of discussions include the importance of accurately pricing new risks, developing innovative insurance products and the role of regulatory frameworks.

Resources

Explore our guides to setting up actuarial teams, microinsurance pricing tools, and more.

Webinar by GAIN: Pricing Health and Life Insurance Products - A Practical Tool on 23 September 2025

Life and health microinsurance pricing tools

These self-contained pricing models are intended to provide education on applying actuarial principles to pricing life and health products in the microinsurance market.

For more information on the pricing tools, check out our webinar: Pricing health and life insurance products - A practical tool.

Establishing effective actuarial teams for insurers

This guide provides an overview of issues to consider when considering how to set up an actuarial team within your organization.

Actuaries around the globe: A comparison of qualifications and responsibilities across 17 countries

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, understanding the qualifications and responsibilities of actuaries in different countries is essential for fostering global collaboration and improving best practices.

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Actuarial framework in the regulatory supervision of the insurance industry: A comparison of requirements across nine countries

As risks and insurance products have become more complex, and risk management capabilities have improved, regulatory oversight of the insurance industry has evolved over the last decade to address these changes. A key part of this evolution has been the shift toward risk-based capital (RBC) management, which essentially measures capital requirements for insurers based on the risks inherent in their assets and liabilities, including interactions between different risk types.

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Meet the team

Queenie Chow headshot

Queenie Chow

Senior program director | Bio
Queenie leads the program’s strategic direction, setting priorities, shaping activities and determining the allocation of resources to maximize impact. She is the focal point with the UNDP IRFF team ensuring strong collaboration and alignment across the initiative. Through her leadership, she guides the development and delivery of program activities, supports effective decision making and positions the initiative for long-term success and meaningful contribution to the global actuarial profession.
Lyndia Luji headshot

Lyndia Luji

Administration manager | Bio
Lyndia is the backbone of the team ensuring that everything behind the scenes runs smoothly and efficiently. She oversees the essential operational and administrative processes that enable the team and volunteers to focus on in-country work. Through strong co-ordinations, organization and attention to detail, she helps keep activities on track, supports effective delivery across the program and play a vital role in the initiative’s overall success.
Prechhya Mathema headshot

Prechhya Mathema

Actuarial program strategist | Bio
Prechhya leads and facilitates in-country activities for GAIN in South and West Asia, working closely with in-country UNDP NPOs and local stakeholders to build strong relationships and ensure support is aligned with local needs. In addition, she leads thought leadership research on topics related to the actuarial profession in low-middle income countries.
Ong Xie photograph

Ong Xie

Actuarial program strategist
Ong Xie leads and facilitates in-country activities for GAIN in Asia and Africa, working closely with in-country UNDP NPOs and local stakeholders to build strong relationships and ensure support is aligned with local needs. She also provides support on internal operations and management to strengthen the effective implementation of GAIN initiatives.
Ivanna Ulin photograph

Ivanna Ulin

Actuarial program strategist
Ivanna facilitates in-country activities for GAIN in Latin America, working closely with in-country UNDP NPOs and local stakeholders to build strong relationships and ensure support is aligned with local needs.
Jackie Dela Fuente photograph

Jackie Dela Fuente

Program manager
Jackie supports program implementation through project management, administrative coordination, and impact tracking. She works closely with teams to ensure execution and continuous progress across program activities.

Interviews: Building actuarial capacity through GAIN

Scenery of Petronas towers and Kuala Lumpur city skyscrapers in the financial district in the morning.
Article

From ideas to on-the-ground impact: Reflections from the GAIN 2025 Innovation Challenge winners

Nikhil Kori, Aelina Samigullina, Colin Turer and Rhythm Dangayach proposed a parametric insurance model to protect solar panels against climate risks, including heat waves, dust storms, wildfire smoke and hail, with the goal of incentivising renewable energy adoption in emerging markets.

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Steve White presenting during the Pakistan Roadmap Workshop in December 2024.
Interview

Q&A with Steve White

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Jorge with a group in the Dominican Republic
Interview

Q&A with Jorge Torres

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