When people are forced to flee their homes due to conflict, disaster, or persecution, their lives are turned upside down. Refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) often leave behind not just their belongings, but also their careers, communities, and financial security.
While humanitarian aid provides vital short-term relief — like food, shelter, and medical care — displaced people also need long-term support to rebuild their futures. Access to finance is one of the most powerful tools to make that possible.
The impact of financial access for refugees
Refugees are often excluded from traditional financial systems. Without credit histories, formal identification, or stable addresses, they face steep barriers when trying to start a business, continue their education, or provide for their families.
Kiva works to change that by offering crowdfunded loans tailored to the unique needs of displaced people. These loans help refugees take their next step — whether it’s launching a salon, expanding a farm, or going back to school. They're more than just financial tools — they’re a way to reclaim opportunity and stability.
How local partners make it possible
Kiva partners with local organizations that specialize in reaching displaced and underserved populations.
Through Kiva and its Lending Partners, refugees are seeing transformative outcomes across key dimensions of financial health, resilience, and agency.
These partners don’t just provide capital — they offer training, support, and a sense of possibility.
FINCA Uganda: Kiva is working with FINCA Uganda specifically to finance their program to lend to refugees. They aim to generate jobs and business opportunities in the Kiryandongo settlement, requiring minimal collateral to make loans accessible for refugees.
Inkomoko: Inkomoko is the largest investor in refugee businesses in Africa, providing loans and business training in Rwanda, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
UGAFODE Microfinance: UGAFODE works in refugee communities in Uganda to create self-employment and income-generating activities through loans and financial training.
Related: How UGAFODE and Kiva are expanding financial access in Uganda’s refugee settlements
How Kiva loans help refugees
Bahati in Rwanda took a Kiva loan through Inkomoko to fund her restaurant business.
These three Kiva Lending Partners were featured in the 2024 Microfinance Index — an independent report published by 60 Decibels which highlights the impact of microloans on individuals. Their results show just how impactful financial access can be for refugees.
1. Growth in income and livelihoods
91% of borrowers reported an increase in business income after receiving their loan — a clear sign that access to capital helps them rebuild and expand their enterprises. From mobile beauty salons to small farms, their businesses are more than sources of income — they’re pathways to stability and self-reliance.
2. Improved quality of life
93% of borrowers reported an improved quality of life, citing the ability to cover household expenses, invest in education, and make home improvements. Their financial access ripples beyond business to uplift entire families.
3. Greater financial resilience
80% of clients said they were better able to manage emergency expenses — an important indicator of resilience in uncertain environments. These loans offer not just opportunity, but a buffer against future shocks.
4. Increased savings
83% of refugee borrowers reported growing their savings after working with Kiva Lending Partners. Access to credit, paired with strong partner support and education, helps clients build the financial cushion they need for long-term security.
5. Confidence and financial empowerment
The outcomes of loans go well beyond financial gains — 93% of borrowers reported gaining confidence through financial services, signaling increased autonomy and decision-making power. This renewed sense of agency and stability enables individuals to plan for their future, even in the uncertainty of a new environment.
Real stories of impact
“The money we were given really helped a lot. I saw my kids living a healthy life.”
— Mbazimutima, Kiva and UGAFODE borrower in Uganda
Loans offer displaced individuals the means to restore not just their livelihoods — but also their hope.
In a refugee settlement in southwest Uganda, Mbazimutima and Beata run a small shop, stocking the wooden shelves with a colorful array of cosmetics, candy, and personal necessities.
They had previously tried to get a loan from other banks, but like many refugees, they were refused due to their status and lack of collateral. Then, a UGAFODE loan officer came through the village, announcing on a microphone that there were loans available for business owners.
Mbazimutima and Beata applied, and their first loan was funded in two days. It allowed them to buy a tuk-tuk. After repaying that loan, subsequent loans helped them grow their shop and attract more customers.
“The money we were given really helped a lot. I saw my kids living a healthy life,” says Mbazimutima of the business he and his wife have built, adding proudly that he recently bought a sewing machine for their daughter.
He dreams of buying a car to replace the one that was seized when they fled Congo, but for now, his priority is expanding the shop to serve the community.
“I also plan to buy more stock and have a store that sells groceries, because that’s what is really needed in this community.”
Read more: Displaced by the pandemic, Laura found a new life with an old recipe — and a Kiva loan
How you can help refugees
You can support refugees directly by funding a loan through Kiva. Whether it’s $25 or more, your contribution helps someone rebuild their life with agency and independence.
Support refugees globally – Fund a loan to a displaced person anywhere in the world.
Support refugees in the U.S. – Over 10% of Kiva borrowers in the U.S. are refugees.
Support people in conflict zones – Strengthen communities facing ongoing displacement risks.
By offering fair, accessible financial resources, we can help displaced people not just survive, but thrive.
Learn more about Kiva's work with refugees here, or about other ways to help here.
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