“Putting finance at the service of refugees” by the ILO

Every month, the International Labour Organization (ILO) publishes "Social Finance Brief," a publication that traces the journey of financial service providers around the world. In the January 2022 edition, the ILO documented the journey of the Uganda Agency for Development Limited (UGAFODE), an organization supported by the Gramen Crédit Agricole Foundation.

UGAFODE is one of the microfinance institutions benefiting from a program launched by the Foundation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) to promote the financial and non-financial inclusion of refugees and host communities in Uganda.

Through the program, UGAFODE opened a mini-branch in the Nakivale refugee camp in Uganda. It received financial support to open the branch in Nakivale and technical support, coordinated by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, to develop a range of products and services tailored to the needs of refugees.

The ILO's "Social Finance Brief" describes the evolution of UGAFODE's decision-making and operational processes to become an inclusive actor serving refugees and host communities. UGAFODE is an example of good practice for the microfinance sector and a compelling story of the impact of the Foundation and its partners' work on the ground.

Download the Note here.