Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems (DREAMS) for Refugees

Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award
Finalist
Village Enterprise

Village Enterprise, in partnership with Mercy Corps and IDinsight, plans to scale and evaluate “DREAMS for Refugees”, a program to equip refugees in Uganda and Ethiopia with the skills, support, resources, and connections they need to become successful entrepreneurs.

Last Updated: July 2023
Competition Participation
Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award
Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award
Subject
Right to free movement and asylum
Current Work Location(s):
  • Ethiopia
  • Uganda
  • Ethiopia
  • Uganda
Priority Population(s):
  • Extremely poor people
  • Young adults
  • Young women
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
  • 1. No poverty
  • 8. Decent work and economic growth
  • 10. Reduced inequalities

Executive Summary

For more than 10 million refugees without a reliable source of income, the only way to feed their families is through food assistance. Food aid in East Africa has been cut by 40% in the past year, and further cuts are likely. We risk hunger, unrest, and deepening humanitarian crises without a scalable solution that facilitates sustainable self-reliance.

Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems - or DREAMS for Refugees - will layer two evidence-based models to achieve increased household income, savings, and assets; improved food security; and improved well-being for 150,000 women, children, and men. Graduation will provide the capital and skills to support refugees as they establish businesses. Market Systems Development will help build market access pathways to ensure those businesses can be successful. Through a rigorous evaluation, we will generate the evidence needed to fundamentally change how self-reliance is perceived and funded in the refugee space.

Organization Details
Lead Organization

Village Enterprise

website: http://www.villageenterprise.org/
Organization Headquarters
California, United States of America
Organization ID
22-2852248
Number of Full-time Employees
101 to 300
Annual Operating Budget
$5.1 to 10 Million
Type
Nonprofit

Charity, fund, non-governmental organization, religious institution, school, or other entity

Organizations may provide budget and employee data based on this proposal or the organization as a whole. For more information on this proposal or organization, please email us.

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