Despite active engagement in economic activities, urban refugees often struggle with inadequate access to formal financial products and services, hindering their pursuit of sustainable livelihoods. This gap in financial inclusion is particularly stark when compared to the initiatives available for camp-based refugees, such as loan guarantees and banking support. Though some ecosystem players have begun addressing this issue, opportunities for engagement with Financial Service Providers (FSPs) remain to develop holistic financial services for urban refugees.

This report explores the financial services currently available to urban refugees and proposes viable models demonstrating their bankability. Drawing from the Re:Build Program’s experiences in Kampala and Nairobi, the report offers recommendations to FSPs to catalyze lending and enhance financial inclusion for urban refugees and their host communities. Our analysis and proposed models aim to provide a roadmap for improved financial inclusivity for urban refugees, in Kampala, Nairobi, and beyond.

Available documents & links