Innovations for Poverty Action 341d ago

Microentrepreneurship is a common form of employment for refugees, including among the 150,000 refugees in Kampala, Uganda. However, they often face constraints to business growth such as obstacles to borrowing, inexperience, or a lack of managerial capital and networks. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) recently completed a randomized evaluation measuring the impact of a cash grant and business mentorship program aimed at helping refugees overcome social and economic barriers to entrepreneurship. This new research is shedding light on the economic and social cohesion outcomes of this model. Emerging evidence from the Re:BUiLD program highlights the outcomes of business mentorship relative to cash alone. In our third webinar of the Displaced Livelihoods Webinar series (https://poverty-action.org/displaced-livelihoods-webinar-series), which took place on July 23, 2025, speakers examined the results, mechanisms, and policy implications of a randomized controlled trial evaluating this intervention: - Thomas Ginn (Center for Global Development) presented the recent results, showcasing the impact of business mentorship and grants compared to cash alone on business outcomes and attitudes. - David Martin Musiime (International Rescue Committee) discussed the IRC’s application of the results and the implications of future work in this topic. Learn more about the Displaced Livelihoods Webinar Series at https://poverty-action.org/displaced-livelihoods-webinar-series.