AcServ started in November 2013 as a health systems strengthening, financial systems development and financial inclusion consultancy. Since inception, AcServ has implemented various projects across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia mainly in Ghana, Tanzania, the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, Rwanda, India, and Mongolia.

It’s dynamic global pool of Experts have more than 20 years experience in their respective areas of expertise. The pool includes Actuaries, Researchers, Trainers, Insurance Specialist, M&E Specialists, Health Financing Specialists and Project Management and Implementation specialists. AcServ’s prides it’s of using local experts to achieve in-depth local understanding so as to provide tailored services, as well as to ensure local knowledge transfer and cost efficiency. As such, AcServ has built pools of local experts in all the countries it operates and draws on them as and when required.

AcServ’s Head Quarters is in Norway but has regional offices in Kenya and Ghana.

Team

MARK AKANKO, ACHAW

Health Financing | Financial Systems Development | Inclusive Insurance Expert

Mark Achaw is a highly motivated and engaged Health Financing Expert with over 16 years of experience implementing and managing complex projects in health financing, health systems strengthening, and financial inclusion. He has advised and worked collaboratively with various country government counterparts including in Ghana, Tanzania, the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Afghanistan and Rwanda to develop and implement key policies and strategies in health financing and insurance. He holds an MPhil in Sustainability Studies and MBA in Finance.

In 2015, evaluated 5 national health insurance programmes (namely India Rhastriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme, Thailand Universal Coverage Scheme, Indonesia Jamkesmas and the Rwanda Mutuelles de Santé (CBHI) which led to the definition of  a performance evaluation framework for government-sponsored health insurance.

Extensive experience working with both local and international organizations across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, supporting them to develop and implement evidence-based tailored solutions including the Rwanda Social Security Board, the Ghana National Health Insurance Authority, Ghana National Insurance Commission, Nigeria National Insurance Commission, insurance companies, International Labour Organization (ILO), Options Consultancy Services Ltd, Palladium Group, Centre International de Développement et de Recherche (CIDR), the Microinsurance Network (MIN), the Frankfurt School of Finance, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and AFC Consultants International GmbH.

Between May 2021 and June 2023, as the Director of Health Financing, led the health financing objective of the USAID funded Rwanda Integrated Health Systems Activity (RIHSA), where he facilitated over 3  major sector reforms, led over 4 national studies, initiated central level dialogues on alternative financing mechanisms for the health sector, contributed to the mid-term review of the Rwanda Fourth Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP IV), as well as facilitated public financial management training for all public health facilities across the country.

Formerly as Health Insurance Advisor to the USAID funded Health Sector Resiliency (HSR) Project in Afghanistan, developed the methodology and tools for conducting the first National health insurance Willingness and Ability to Pay study, led discussions on and provided technical inputs towards the definition of a National Health insurance benefit packages, developed a synthesized report on health costing studies in Afghanistan, provided recommendations for the establishment of a Strategic Provider Payment Mechanism for health insurance in Afghanistan, and conducted situational analysis towards the introduction of a national health insurance program in Afghanistan

DENIS GARAND

Actuary & President of Denis Garand Associates (DGA)

Denis Garand is an actuary with over 35 years experience. He has extensive experience in business planning, product development and pricing in various sectors, including Health insurance. In his first 20 years of work, he held key positions in an insurance company, becoming Vice-President of Group insurance operations.

His work in over 30 countries has covered a wide array of topics including advising regulators, and developing and accessing microinsurance initiatives, raining material, capital requirement models, advising on insurance company set up, and doing original research to develop actuarial tables. He has advised and implemented projects on-behalf of of donors and businesses including ILO, KfW, GIZ, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, VimoSEWA, PhilHealth, mutuelle de sante de Cotonou, mutuelle de sante Rwanda, the Kenyan National AIDS Control Council (NACC), the Kenyan National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), State Life Pakistan, and Jubilee insurance Pakistan.

Denis has been a Trainer on KPI’s, simulations of micro insurance and regulatory skills. He helped develop innovative health care delivery models and financing. Working closely with stakeholders, Denis conducted several onsite visits and led the preparation of projects reports to support discussions on how to reach the informal sector.

Publications (co-authored – not exhaustive)

• Performance evaluation framework for government-sponsored health insurance programmes publication (2016), Microinsurance Network
• Lessons learned and good practices in health microinsurance: a guide for practitioners (2014), Microinsurance Network
• Towards Inclusive Insurance In Nigeria. An Analysis of The Market and Regulations publication (2012) Access to Insurance Initiative (A2ii) and GIZ
• KPI for Microinsurance (2009)