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A Thriving Market on Shifting Sands: Empowering Refugee Businesses in Dadaab

A new report highlights opportunities to support entrepreneurs in creating economic resilience and jobs in one of the world’s largest communities of displaced people.

English PDF

In contrast to public perception, the Dadaab Refugee Complex in Kenya is a vibrant $136 million economic ecosystem hosting approximately 15,000 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. This new report by Inkomoko and TechnoServe, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, examines how to better support Dadaab’s refugees to create economic opportunity and long-term resilience.

While Dadaab’s entrepreneurs show immense capacity, growth is stifled by structural barriers, including limited Sharia-compliant finance, high energy costs, and mobility restrictions. Strategic interventions—such as solar refrigeration and streamlined financial inclusion—could unlock revenue and job opportunities.

Download the full report to explore data-driven insights and recommendations for policymakers, investors, and development partners to catalyze system-wide change and empower refugee-led economies.

English PDF
Kenya Entrepreneurship White Papers & Reports

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