What is the role of local entrepreneurs in creating economic solutions for displaced persons and migrants affected by humanitarian crises? Small and medium enterprises can be a powerful engine of economic recovery in areas affected by conflict and disasters. Employment provided by local and migrant-led businesses is also an important source of livelihood for migrants and displaced persons in host communities. In the charity sector, migrant entrepreneurs create bottom-up initiatives that are tailored to the needs of the communities they belong to. This session will bring together local and international actors operating in a variety of countries to provide an insight into the role of entrepreneurship in the humanitarian-peace-development nexus, with a focus on the integration of migrants and displaced persons.

Speakers

The International Organization for Migration’s Enterprise Development Fund was developed in Iraq to help local entrepreneurs bridge gaps in access to finance in areas affected by conflict and displacement. The fund has a strong focus on labour creation, providing conditional grants for entrepreneurs as they work towards agreed milestones. Since its inception in 2020 it has supported close to 2,500 businesses, injecting more than 39 million USD into local enterprises and leveraging 18 million USD in business contributions towards agreed expansion plans. This has resulted in the creation of 11,200 new jobs and in improved labour conditions for 13,000 existing employees. IOM recently launched new pilot initiatives adapting the fund to Lebanon, Pakistan, Türkiye, Ecuador, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

In response to the arrival of large numbers of Venezuelan refugees and migrants, the Ecuadorean Chamber of Innovation and Technologyhas launched a number of initiatives to promote employment and entrepreneurship among migrants, including through the provision of tech-related skills. They have conducted a Data Analytics Bootcamp specifically designed to equip Venezuelan migrants with skills that are in high demand among Ecuador's tech companies. CITEC is actively facilitating connections between the newly trained individuals and the available job positions in these companies.

Egna Legna is a migrant-led organization working for Ethiopian domestic workers in Lebanon. Among other activities, Egna Legna organizes skills training sessions for migrants in tough economic circumstances. It also acts as an incubator for other migrant-led organizations and networks who want to establish themselves and do similar activities. They recently started a school in Ethiopia providing skills training to support the reintegration of migrants returning from Lebanon.