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Conversations that stood out
All the quotes and deep reflections
“We are doing this for the trust…we are building trust with each other. When leaders trust in an idea, wonderful things happen”
Isaac Kwaku Fokuo Jr. — Amahoro Coalition
“When we talk about IDPs and lived displacement. We are all just one step away from being displaced ourselves.” “This is not them, this could be us”
Nina Olatike — BDP International
“States are failing to produce peace, so refugees have been produced”
Isaac Kwaku Fokuo Jr. — Amahoro Coalition
“There is an element of emotional and psychological displacement among refugees, beyond the physical displacement”
Reeta Roy — Mastercard Foundation
“We have solutions[…] but are they the right solutions? We need the right solutions for the people we serve”
Kelly Clements — UNHCR
“We need collective action to strengthen our action in underserved communities…and the role of the private sector cannot be understated in that regard.”
Mr. John Burugu — Department of Refugee Services (Kenya)
“Borders may divide us, and they may divide land, but they should never divide humanity.”
Leanne Manas — UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
“We should move from the point of thinking about young people as job seekers only. But as job creators in themselves. We should listen to what the young people actually bring to the table because they know best what solutions will work for them.”
Hannah Tsadik — Kenya Country Director, Mastercard Foundation
“Job seeking is not just a search for work—it’s a pursuit of dignity, a path to reliable income, a foundation for safety, and a quest for purpose through opportunities that honor the quality of every human life”
Hilda Kabushenga — Africa Talent Company
“Depending on the target audience and the young person, the answer is not always a full-time job. You have to work with them and ask them, “How do you want to earn and how do you want us to support you?” Is it through tasks, gigs, or a portfolio of work, and then we can help them create it.”
Hilda Kabushenga — Africa Talent Company
“Let us collectively come together in the pursuit of dignified work, forging partnerships with the private sector to ensure displaced communities are meaningfully included in the workforce.”
Brenda Mbathi — Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre SEZ
“As we [private sector] look to offer dignified jobs to the more vulnerable population, how can we put in certain clauses to ensure that private sector players offer a portion of the available opportunities to the members of the displaced communities.”
Brenda Mbathi — Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre SEZ
“Agriculture is a powerful tool to transform communities—but without training and direct links to markets, its potential remains untapped. Beyond sector partnerships, bridging the gap to markets is essential for lasting impact.”
Hannah Tsadik — Kenya Country Director, Mastercard Foundation
“We need to understand the regulatory hurdles and consciously advocate for an improvement. Our labour laws are quite rigid because employers would like to hire, but they need to do it in a compliant way.”
Brenda Mbathi — Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre SEZ
“We need to think of how we can mutually recognise skills, qualifications, and certifications across the border, as this will accelerate how displaced persons can quickly plug into the employment market.”
Hannah Tsadik — Kenya Country Director, Mastercard Foundation
“While there are many policies that are supporting the inclusion of displaced persons in the economy, we need to push more on the implementation of these policies through a coalition of voices.”
Hannah Tsadik — Kenya Country Director, Mastercard Foundation
“Employers need to think more broadly—not just about how these individuals can become full-time employees within the organization, but about how their overall sourcing can incorporate practices that bring income to displaced communities.”
Hilda Kabushenga — Africa Talent Company
“Trust us — a human being is still a human being. ‘Refugee’ is just a status. Refugees are capable and can do the work. We’re trying to save the lives of many who are at risk.”
Amos Kwizera — Kivu Society Corporation (KSC)
“We don’t just need to step up — we need to step forward, and do so with courage. Let’s take real action and deliver solutions. Even in places where no clear solutions exist today, we can still offer internships and first job pathways. We must work together and advocate for sustainable solutions across the continent. With the AfCFTA in place, we should be strong advocates for the free movement of labour and opportunities.”
Brenda Mbathi — Two Rivers International Finance and Innovation Centre SEZ
“Our refugee status does not define our capability”
John Chol Matiop — Poet
“In Kakuma, we partnered with Equity Bank to extend loans to both refugee and host communities, with IFC assuming 50% of the risk in our first refugee-focused intervention in Sub-Saharan Africa. By working closely with regulators to resolve KYC and bankability barriers, we created an enabling environment for inclusive finance—catalyzing private sector investment, introducing essential services, and generating jobs. It’s a testament to how a holistic, collaborative approach—leveraging each actor’s strengths—can drive sustainable impact in underserved markets.”
Salah El Assar — IFC (World Bank Group)
“A graduated financing model—starting with small grants or loans and scaling up—helps de-risk financial inclusion while giving entrepreneurs room to grow.”
Saralyn Warimu — Equity Bank
“Banks and financial institutions should collaborate by sharing credit histories and co-investing to strengthen bankability and drive investment in fragile economies.”
Saralyn Warimu — Equity Bank
“Profit cannot be the sole motive when working with refugees. To succeed, businesses must be driven by a genuine commitment to do good.”
Habiba Suleiman — TGI Nigeria
“Refugees have lost everything—it’s unreasonable to expect them to repay capital on conventional terms. We must design finance that reflects the realities of displacement including contracting illness, mental health challenges and economic instability.”
Habiba Suleiman — TGI Nigeria
“Our experience with smallholder farmers has shown that with the right support—agri-finance, technical assistance, and tailored programs—even the most vulnerable can thrive. We’ve had a 100% loan recovery rate.”
Habiba Suleiman — TGI Nigeria
“Refugees are often deeply motivated to rebuild. They don’t need pity—they need opportunity.”
Habiba Suleiman — TGI Nigeria
We have a 97% repayment rate across five countries—including through debt and Sharia-compliant financing—because we ensure faith is never a barrier to access.”
Julienne Oyler — Inkomoko
“The myth that refugees only respond to grants is false. Many already participate in local trust-based lending circles—small loans, high repayment.”
Julienne Oyler — Inkomoko
“We hire directly from refugee communities. They understand the risks, the opportunities, and the realities on the ground far better than outsiders.”
Julienne Oyler — Inkomoko
“Access to information is vital, but we also need visionaries—people willing to take risks and design finance for new realities.”
Julienne Oyler — Inkomoko
“Tailored interventions are essential. Even within the same country, the needs and capabilities of displaced populations differ dramatically—for instance, northern Nigeria has a higher concentration of skilled workers, while the south requires greater investment in skills development.”
Habiba Suleiman — TGI Nigeria
“We ensure our fellows hire from both refugee and host communities. This creates ripple effects that extend impact far beyond the immediate beneficiaries.”
Kris Senanu — Amahoro Coalition
“Capacity building must go hand in hand with trust-building. Reinvesting in community-linked initiatives allows for more sustainable and accountable deployment of capital.”
Kris Senanu — Amahoro Coalition
