From Assistance to Opportunity: Strengthening the Economic Future of Urban Refugees
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Right to left: UNHCR Country Representantive, Ms. Brigitte Eno, and UN Women Country Representative, Ms. Clara Anyangwe, marvel at the economic empowerment of urban refugee women. Photo: UN Women, Burundi, Parker Mugisha.
For many urban refugees, rebuilding a life after displacement requires more than protection; it requires access to opportunities that restore dignity, self-reliance, and hope. Through a collaborative initiative led by UN Women, UNHCR, and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), 114 urban refugees, including 82 women and 32 men from the Democratic Republic of Congo, have taken an important step toward economic independence.
Organized refugee groups in Bujumbura and Rumonge received equipment designed to strengthen and expand their income-generating activities. The support targeted sectors with strong potential for sustainable livelihoods, including rice farming, brickmaking, soap production, tailoring, oil processing, and office services.
For refugee farmers in Buringa, the provision of agricultural and processing equipment has enhanced their capacity to increase production, improve product quality, and access new markets. Essential tools such as rice-processing machinery, storage facilities, water tanks, and agricultural implements are helping transform collective efforts into more productive and profitable enterprises.
The equipment distribution drive for soap-making, oil-making, and sewing units. Photo: UN Women, Burundi. Parker Mugisha.
In Bujumbura, refugee entrepreneurs received equipment to strengthen small businesses and cooperative ventures. Beyond supporting production activities, the initiative also invested in digital inclusion by providing computers, networking equipment, office furniture, and printing facilities. These resources create new opportunities for business management, communication, and service delivery, enabling refugee groups to operate more efficiently and competitively.
In Rumonge, women and youth engaged in tailoring, soap-making, and oil processing are now better equipped to grow their businesses. Sewing machines, embroidery equipment, and technical tools are helping participants improve the quality of their products, diversify their services, and increase their earning potential.
The initiative demonstrates the power of partnership in addressing the challenges faced by displaced populations. By combining expertise and resources, UN Women, UNHCR, and JRS are helping refugees move beyond immediate survival needs toward long-term economic resilience.
According to Amadou Alhadji, JRS Country Director for Burundi and Tanzania, the project is designed to create lasting change in the lives of refugee families. “The project mainly seeks to transform the living conditions of beneficiaries through income-generating activities. The objective is to create sustainable jobs, particularly for young people and women,” he said. His remarks reflect the project’s broader vision of equipping refugees with the tools and opportunities needed to build secure and independent futures.
The impact extends beyond individual beneficiaries. By supporting organized refugee groups and strengthening their productive capacities, the project contributes to job creation while fostering greater economic participation among women and youth. It also promotes social cohesion by encouraging collaboration and economic interaction between refugees and host communities.
For Clara Anyangwe, UN Women Representative in Burundi, the initiative is also a testament to the resilience and determination of refugees themselves. “I commend the exemplary resilience of these urban refugees,” she noted. “Organizing themselves into groups is a major lever for overcoming socio-economic vulnerabilities.” She emphasized that the equipment handover represents strategic support that promotes inclusive and gender-responsive solutions while strengthening social cohesion between refugees and host communities.
Urban refugees who formed a group of rice farmers in Buringa were supported by UN Women, UNHCR and JRS in their project. Photo: UN Women, Burundi, Parker Mugisha.
Refugees have demonstrated remarkable determination by organizing collectively and developing solutions to overcome socio-economic barriers. The equipment provided serves not only as a practical resource but also as recognition of their skills, resilience, and entrepreneurial potential.
Through this partnership, urban refugees are gaining the tools they need to build sustainable livelihoods, strengthen their economic autonomy, and contribute meaningfully to the communities in which they live. The initiative stands as a powerful example of how targeted investments in skills, entrepreneurship, and collective action can create lasting opportunities and foster inclusive development for both refugees and host populations.