Building inclusive economies: ICC and UNHCR join hands for refugee inclusion in Africa
Building inclusive economies: ICC and UNHCR join hands for refugee inclusion in Africa
To improve access to sustainable energy and increase agricultural production for both refugees and their host communities, UNHCR is working with the Zambian authorities to connect all three refugee settlements in the country to the national grid.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, came together in a milestone webinar to explore how Africa’s chambers of commerce and private sector can drive inclusive economic growth by creating opportunities for displaced and host communities.
Titled ‘Enhancing cooperation between UNHCR and ICC at a regional and local level in Africa – Unlocking opportunities through refugee inclusion’, the session brought together ICC chapters, chambers of commerce, and UNHCR field teams from across the African continent to discuss practical ways to integrate refugees into value chains, foster entrepreneurship, and unlock innovation. At the heart of the conversation was a shared belief: economic inclusion is not only a moral imperative, but also a smart investment for Africa’s future.
“Around 50% of displaced persons in Africa are below the age of 17, reflecting the continent’s demographic dividend, and signalling the importance of investing in the potential of Africa’s displaced youth. By capitalizing on the skills, resilience, and creativity that refugees bring along with them, the private sector can play a role in transforming displacement into opportunity and strengthening local economies.” Said Nancy Aburi, UNHCR’s Chief of Private Sector Partnerships Africa.
Africa hosts over 44 million displaced people, including refugees and internally displaced persons. Many live in regions with untapped economic potential. By connecting these communities to jobs, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities, businesses can help drive sustainable growth while meeting their own talent and market needs.
Across Africa, millions of displaced people bring skills, creativity, and ambition — but too often lack access to the markets and networks that would allow them to thrive. UNHCR and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) are working across the continent, to open doors for refugee entrepreneurs, workers, and innovators. Because when we unlock refugee talent, local economies grow. Businesses expand. Communities become more resilient.
To strengthen engagement with the private sector on inclusive economic development, ICC and UNHCR have embarked on a long-term partnership to mobilize ICC chapters and chambers of commerce in promoting refugee economic inclusion, with focus on Africa and Latin America.
“It is a real delight to be here for the second instalment of this important webinar series focused on strengthening collaboration between ICC and UNHCR with a spotlight on Africa—and what a timely conversation. I am pleased that this discussion addresses unlocking the economic potential of the continent through inclusive growth- which must include refugees and displaced people,” said Julian Kassum, ICC Deputy Secretary General for network. “Building on our partnership with UNHCR, which began in 2023 at the World Chambers Congress, our teams have been working to expand access to employment, self-employment, cross border trading, and skills development” he added.
The Africa webinar attracted stakeholders from Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Cameroon, Liberia, South Africa, among other countries. It showcased existing engagement modalities in Kenya and Nigeria, and examined potential areas of collaboration including skills development, employment and entrepreneurship, access to markets, and policy advocacy and implementation.
This convening marks the beginning of a deeper collaboration between ICC and UNHCR in Africa. Both organizations committed to working with businesses, chambers of commerce, and local partners to turn ideas into action, building economies that leave no one behind.
In parallel, UNHCR and the Mastercard Foundation are advancing a multi-year partnership to expand education and economic opportunities for refugees and host communities across Africa. Through this collaboration, UNHCR will enforce engagement with the chambers of commerce, and other private-sector actors to strengthen enabling environments for refugee inclusion. This includes efforts to improve access to skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship ecosystems, as well as cross-border market linkages, all of which align with the broader objectives of the ICC–UNHCR partnership.
