projects

Strategic support for a refugee-led green economy

Completed
A woman presents a branded bottle, in front of a poster.
Participants in the Ecoactivo project used discarded food and clothing to develop new products and build their own businesses. Photo: UNHCR.
Programme
UNHCR Innovation Incubator
Fund
Environment and Climate Action Innovation Fund | Incubator
Start Date
Total Project Cost
USD 82,810.000
Country
Ecuador
Project Team
UNHCR Ecuador , Livelihoods Team

Challenge

Most forcibly displaced people in Ecuador work in the informal sector and live in areas with few income-generating opportunities. The green economy could offer a solution, but opportunities and methods to successfully leverage it have not been fully explored or understood.

Solution

Work with refugees, host communities and stakeholders to identify and test how they could successfully develop green products and businesses not only for income, but to address key local challenges, such as food waste in wholesale markets, and associated negative environmental and human health impacts.

Impact

128 refugee entrepreneurs will directly benefit from capacity-building and other support, with further benefits derived from improved livelihoods, greener practices, and a method to follow with other refugees. Evidence generated on the viability of transitioning to green economies presented to local stakeholders and relevant actors.

Project impact

39
entrepreneurs trained & supported to develop & test green products
23
green businesses launched with seed funding provided to participating individuals & groups
97%
of participants reported increased income through their new business

Other information

The key partner of the project, the local food bank, has committed to help the entrepreneurs continue accessing the food waste that provides the inputs for their products and is looking to replicate the programme.

Learn more about this project by reading our webstory and watching the video below.