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MRF was one of the beneficiaries of the The Re:BUiLD program; funded by the IKEA Foundation and is currently under implementation in Kampala and Nairobi cities. The IRC is the lead partner and has been coordinating a consortium of local and international partners to deliver the program interventions.
The program seeks to deliver livelihood interventions for urban refugees and vulnerable host residents to achieve economic self-reliance and benefit from strengthened urban economic, regulatory, and social environments. We aim to enable change at varying levels, from better access to livelihoods opportunities and inclusive services within communities, to improved refugee-related policies and more targeted and effective service delivery by national, regional, and global actors.
Some of the key features of the program’s approach are flexible funding, adaptive design, and continuous knowledge and evidence generation.
Kampala used the GCF grant to provide socioeconomic support to over 400 refugees, migrants, and low-income frontline workers during the pandemic.
To implement this project, the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) partnered with Makasi Rescue Foundation (MRF). Working together, KCCA and MRF delivered cash assistance to 400 migrants and other vulnerable Ugandans and covered school fees for 50 refugee students, most of them girls. Additionally, the project provided skills training in auto-mechanics, cosmetology, and dressmaking to over 30 entrepreneurs. The project provided these entrepreneurs seed funding to launch their own micro-enterprises and helped them register these businesses in Kampala.
Impact
Through this project, MRF together with partners provided vital support to those hit hardest by the pandemic’s economic toll.
By delivering cash assistance to 400 refugees, migrants, and low-income frontline workers, the project strengthened social safety nets for individuals who lost access to their livelihoods during Covid-19 lockdowns.
The project also helped provide much needed financial relief for families and youth. By covering the cost of school fees, meals, and materials for 50 refugee youth, MRF and KCCA not only helped marginalized students stay in school but also gave families the opportunity to save and budget for the upcoming school year.
The impact of Kampala’s project goes far beyond its support services for clients. In working with the MRF, the project created an all-too-rare partnership between a city government and refugee-led organization. This partnership elevated migrant voices and leadership, demonstrating the city’s commitment to an inclusive pandemic response.
This project..
