Service Description :

Impact Hub Harare provides comprehensive research consultancy services, offering strategic insights and data-driven recommendations to support organizations in achieving their goals. We specialize in conducting research across diverse sectors, including social entrepreneurship, market access, and financial inclusion, with a focus on local and regional contexts. Our expertise in gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data enables us to deliver tailored solutions that inform decision-making, shape policies, and drive impactful outcomes for both private and public sector clients.

Service Options:

– Market Research
– Social Impact Research
– Data Analysis & Interpretation
– Policy Research & Recommendations
– Financial Inclusion Studies
– Stakeholder Engagement & Surveys
– Needs Assessment & Feasibility Studies
– Program Evaluation & Impact Assessment

CASE STUDY:

Service:

Research Consultancy

Client:

UNHCR

Website:

https://www.unhcr.org/media/global-roadmap-refugee-entrepreneurship

Client/s:

Full Report:

Global Entrepreneurship Roadmap for Refugees.

Description :

In partnership with UNHCR, Impact Hub Harare played a key role in the research and development of the Global Entrepreneurship Roadmap for Refugees, a strategic report aimed at empowering refugee entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable livelihoods. Impact Hub Harare was responsible for conducting research across Africa, gathering critical insights into the social entrepreneurship ecosystem, market access, and financial inclusion opportunities for refugees.

As part of a global collaboration with Impact Hub locations around the world, Impact Hub Harare worked closely with stakeholders and ecosystem actors across the continent to ensure that Africa’s unique context was adequately represented in the report.

Scope of the Research

The Global Entrepreneurship Roadmap for Refugees was developed to explore strategies that would support refugee entrepreneurs in establishing and growing sustainable businesses. The research conducted by Impact Hub Harare focused on identifying the existing challenges faced by refugees, the resources available in the African ecosystem, and innovative approaches that could be leveraged to improve their access to finance, markets, and entrepreneurial support.

 

Key areas of focus included:

1. Livelihood and Subsistence: Investigating the immediate needs of refugees, such as subsistence-level income generation, and identifying opportunities to transition from micro-enterprises to formal entrepreneurial ventures.

2. Access to Markets: Understanding how refugees could better integrate into local markets and gain visibility, while also advocating for social procurement initiatives.

3. Access to Finance: Exploring innovative financing mechanisms, such as blended finance models, peer-to-peer lending, and credit cooperatives, to support refugee entrepreneurship.

4. Partnerships with Ecosystem Actors: Building connections with accelerators, incubators, and social entrepreneurship networks to provide refugees with the mentorship, resources, and technical support needed to scale their businesses.

Key Findings from Africa

Impact Hub Harare’s research uncovered several critical insights about the refugee entrepreneurship ecosystem in Africa. The continent presents both challenges and opportunities for refugees seeking to build businesses. Key findings include:

1. Social Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Africa has a growing network of social entrepreneurship actors, such as B Corp movements, Fair Trade networks, and local Impact Hubs, which can be mobilized to support refugee entrepreneurs. However, there is a need for stronger partnerships and better integration between these actors and refugee enterprises.

2. Market Dynamics and Social Procurement: There are significant opportunities for refugee entrepreneurs to integrate into local and global markets, particularly through social procurement initiatives. By raising awareness among public and private buyers about the importance of buying from refugee-owned businesses, refugees can gain access to larger markets. Programs like #BuySocial could be critical in advancing this agenda.

3. Access to Finance: While there are innovative finance models in Africa, such as village savings and loans associations and informal micro-loan systems (e.g., the “Somali Bank”), access to formal financial services remains a major challenge. Advocacy for financial institutions to offer blended finance mechanisms tailored to refugee entrepreneurs is essential.

4. Innovative Approaches to Refugee Entrepreneurship: Impact Hub Harare’s research emphasized the need for experimental and innovative approaches to refugee entrepreneurship, including social impact bonds, crowdfunding, and equity financing. Additionally, collaboration with universities, co-working spaces, and other entrepreneurship support organizations could provide technical, financial, and operational sustainability for refugee businesses.

Recommendations

Based on the research, several key recommendations were made to improve the refugee entrepreneurship ecosystem across Africa:

1. Strengthening Ecosystem Connections: Build stronger partnerships between refugee entrepreneurs and existing social entrepreneurship networks, such as local Impact Hubs, the Catalyst2030 Network, and Fair Trade organizations. These partnerships can provide the support, mentorship, and resources necessary for refugees to succeed.

2. Advocating for Innovative Financing Models: Advocacy efforts should focus on enabling alternative financing mechanisms such as P2P lending, Islamic finance, and credit cooperatives, which could provide refugees with more flexible and accessible financial resources.

3. Enhancing Market Access: Encourage the creation of market opportunities for refugees by raising awareness through public and private sector initiatives, such as social procurement campaigns and partnerships with local and international buyers. This would allow refugee entrepreneurs to scale their businesses by gaining access to broader markets.

4. Developing Tailored Entrepreneurial Support: Collaborate with accelerators, incubators, and universities to design refugee-specific entrepreneurship programs. These programs should address the unique challenges faced by refugee entrepreneurs and offer specialized support in areas such as market integration, product development, and business scaling.

Impact of the Report

The Global Entrepreneurship Roadmap for Refugees, prepared by Impact Hub and its global partners, has been instrumental in shaping strategies for refugee entrepreneurship across the world. The report provided UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations with actionable insights and recommendations to support refugees in building sustainable businesses. By leveraging the findings from Impact Hub Harare’s research in Africa, the roadmap outlines a pathway for creating more inclusive and supportive environments for refugee entrepreneurs across the continent.

Conclusion

Impact Hub Harare’s role in conducting the research for Africa as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Roadmap for Refugees has contributed significantly to the development of innovative strategies to support refugee entrepreneurship. By focusing on market access, financial inclusion, and partnerships with social entrepreneurship networks, the roadmap provides a comprehensive guide to empowering refugees through sustainable business development. As a key partner in this global effort, Impact Hub Harare continues to champion the cause of social entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa, driving positive change and economic inclusion for marginalized communities