Results of the 2021 – 2023 Partner Innovation Fund Cohort

With more than 120 million people forcibly displaced around the world, all organizations, institutions, and businesses need to examine how they can better integrate refugees and other displaced people into their programs and services. Stand alone initiatives for refugees are no longer sufficient to enable the more welcoming and integrated societies we need where all people can learn, work, and thrive.

More than two-thirds of refugees live in low and middle-income countries, with one-fifth living in Least Developed Countries. Organizations in these regions are doing incredible work to foster greater social inclusion and ensure no person is left behind because of their displacement status. 

Through WUSC’s volunteer program and Partner Innovation Fund, we support inclusive social innovation and social entrepreneurship as means to address pressing global issues, including forced displacement. In our 2021-2023 cohort of the Partner Innovation Fund, four of our partners piloted projects that aimed to expand opportunities within and foster greater social cohesion among refugee and host communities.

Supported by volunteers, these initiatives have provided training and support to approximately 600 youth and women in refugee and host communities in Malawi, Kenya, and Uganda.

Building Skills for Work and Greater Social Cohesion among Refugee and Host Communities

There is Hope | Malawi

There is Hope provides people living in Dzaleka refugee camp and the Dowa host community with access to education and income generating activities. They have been supporting refugees and host communities in Malawi in education, business, and leadership development since 2007. 

With support from WUSC, There is Hope has launched a vocational training program that has a unique focus on promoting greater social cohesion. Youth from refugee and host communities come together to receive training on entrepreneurship and financial literacy in high-demand sectors such as welding and tailoring. Beyond the classroom, participants are provided with accommodation for the duration of the training where There is Hope promotes a healthy social space and nurtures friendships between refugee and host community participants. 

Recently, a WUSC volunteer Gender Advisor joined There is Hope to co-create a Gender Strategy to encourage more women to participate in the program. Although they receive a high number of applications from women, few show up at the start of classes. With the new strategy, There is Hope aims to be more intentional about how they reduce barriers to women’s participation to meet their target of a 70% enrollment rate. 

To date, the program has provided vocational training and skills development to 120 youth from refugee and host communities. Among the first cohort of 45 students, There is Hope saw an 80% completion rate, which is among the highest they’ve had in their vocational training programs which they attribute to increased engagement from the teachers. Through a close collaboration with the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority in Malawi, students receive accreditation upon graduation. There is Hope is continuing their support to their network of alumni through business startup support and mentorship opportunities.

Investing in the Talents of Women in Refugee Communities to Create Financial Stability for Themselves and Their Families

RefuSHE | Kenya

RefuSHE’s mission is to protect, educate, and empower orphaned, unaccompanied, and separated refugee girls and young women to build healthier and more resilient futures. They provide a suite of critical services that respond to the unique needs of young refugee women, including legal aid, medical support, psychosocial counseling, home visits, material support, basic education, life-skills development, and vocational training. 

With the support of the Partner Innovation Fund and WUSC volunteers, RefuSHE launched a virtual learning platform on entrepreneurship, vocational training, and wellness for refugee women. After securing funding for the technical development of the platform, they leveraged the Partner Innovation Fund to develop high quality training content. Through customized skill-building video content and digital tutorials led by refugee entrepreneurs, SHElearns is paving the way for urban refugee business development and wellness.

The platform was launched in December 2022 to 101 active users. To help grow the platform’s reach, RefuSHE trained two dozen community champions in Nairobi and Nakura to spread awareness of this resource and help onboard new users. Within six months, the number of users increased to 624 refugee women who were benefiting from 54 videos on business and vocational training available in English, French, Kinyamulenge and Somali.

Adapting Established Entrepreneurship and Startup Support for Refugee Communities

Young African Refugees for Integral Development | Uganda

Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID) is a refugee-led organization based in Kampala, Uganda that offers services that strengthen the skills and employability of youth from both refugee and host communities in the region.

Over the past couple of years, YARID has been adapting their established and successful vocational training and startup support model to refugees in Uganda. Their Family Business for Education model combines entrepreneurship, business and financial literacy, and mentorship. Upon completion of the training, participants receive a small grant, startup kits, and access to village saving and loans associations. 

A WUSC volunteer Social Enterprise Advisor from Uganda has been supporting this initiative by helping participants identify markets for their products. They also supported YARID to develop a village savings and loan structure to improve refugees’ access to credit. WUSC also facilitated a connection between YARID and Action Coalition on Climate Change (another partner of WUSC’s in the country) to strengthen YARID’s integration of environmental sustainability into their programs. 

Since launching this initiative, YARID has supported 200 young women, 70% of whom are refugees. Eighty-two women have been trained in entrepreneurship, half of whom have received start up kits and since started their businesses. 

Providing Inclusive Vocational Training and Startup Supports to Refugee Women in Urban Centres

L’Afrikana | Kenya

L’Afrikana is a refugee-led community-based organization, formed in 2013, with the aim of empowering refugees and host communities through training and business development support in the arts and crafts and tailoring sectors. L’Afrikana believes that the more refugees are involved in finding solutions to the challenges they face, the greater the impact those solutions will have on their community.

Through the Partner Innovation Fund, L’Afrikana has been providing vocational training and startup kits through an approach that reflects the diverse needs of its communities. For example, through their flexible training schedules and onsite daycare facilities, many single mothers have been supported to attend the training.

A WUSC volunteer Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor has been supporting the development of evaluation surveys for program participants to equip L’Afrikana with the knowledge they need to improve and expand their services to refugee women. 

To date, 180 young women and a dozen young men have graduated from the program, with more than 150 youth currently enrolled. All participants have demonstrated improved knowledge and skills, with some indicating they have already been able to start a new business and earn an income. 

Learn more about our Partner Innovation Fund.

Are you looking for ways to address forced displacement? Learn how you can help create more opportunities for refugees and host communities as a volunteer with partners like There is Hope, RefuSHE, YARID, and L’Afrikana. View our volunteer opportunities to learn more and apply.