UNHCR, Sida and the Foundation join forces for the inclusion of refugees

© UNHCR

The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, UNHCR, and Sida are joining forces to develop a program that promotes access to credit for refugees and host communities. Microfinanza has conducted an initial study in Uganda and Jordan, with the possibility of expanding the program to other countries.

A financial inclusion program for refugees

Often perceived as too risky a clientele, refugees generally receive little or no service from financial service providers. However, the needs of these populations are significant, and access to financing for income-generating activities can contribute to their social inclusion. To address this issue, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Swedish Cooperation Agency, and the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation are working together to prepare a credit access program for refugees and host communities. The first phase of preliminary research has just been completed.

The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation was selected to manage the technical assistance and support its partner microfinance institutions in developing a range of products and services tailored to refugee populations. Under the Foundation's coordination, field missions were conducted by Microfinanza to assess refugees' needs for financial and non-financial services in Uganda and Jordan, the first two countries in the program.

A first assessment in Uganda and Jordan

In Uganda, despite a well-structured refugee reception policy that promotes their integration, employment opportunities are limited. Approximately 1.5 million refugees currently live in the country, mostly concentrated in rural areas, where the difficulties of finding employment and accessing financing are even more significant.

In Jordan, 750,000 refugees are currently registered. Due to regulatory obstacles, this population remains largely excluded from the labor market. At the same time, the local microfinance sector, still very young, lacks the resources necessary to expand the range of initiatives developed for refugee groups.

It was in these contexts that the program's first study was conducted. Beyond assessing refugees' financial needs, the study established avenues for better addressing them. The second phase of the program will aim to develop, through financing and technical assistance, the services offered to refugees by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation's partner microfinance institutions.

You can download the reports by clicking on the links below:

Full report (EN): Jordan – Uganda
Executive Summary (EN): Jordan – Uganda

Access the blog on the Findev Gateway website by clicking here.

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To find out more

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated by the United Nations to coordinate international action for the protection of refugees. The organization provides essential assistance, helps guarantee fundamental rights, and develops solutions aimed at the well-being of its target populations. UNHCR works in 128 countries on behalf of 74.1 million people.
//www.unhcr.org/ / @Refugees

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is an agency working on behalf of the Swedish parliament and government with the mission of reducing global poverty. Through its activities and in cooperation with other stakeholders, it contributes to the implementation of Swedish international development policy. The agency is present in 35 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
www.sida.se / @Sida

Microfinanza is a company specializing in services and technical assistance related to the microfinance sector. Its mission is to contribute to financial inclusion and participate in the growth and professionalization of the sector. With over fifteen years of experience, Microfinanza operates through a variety of activities: consulting projects, training, evaluations, and the preparation of studies and research.
//www.microfinanza.com/