Henok Laike

#KeyTakeaways: 𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐃 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 on 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 Today marked the close of the 3-day @IGADSecretariat-@Inkomoko Regional Learning Exchange on Private Sector-Led Refugee Economic Inclusion. Key recommendations to drive #SelfReliance across member states; 🔹 Collaborate with financial institutions to de-risk lending & establish a startup revolving fund 🔹 Develop a clear IGAD regional roadmap for private sector scaling 🔹 Shift from collateral to credit/transaction history & leverage digital IDs (e.g., Ethiopia) 🔹Knowledge Sharing: Scale successful inclusion models, such as Ethiopia’s digital IDs to help financial institutions share data and accelerate refugee processing. In closing, IGAD Director of Health & Social Development Amb. Moussa @Meigague urged all partners to move "from regional commitments to practical partnership, scalable solutions, and measurable results, to make refugee inclusion a reality. #IGADRefugees #IGADSupportPlatform

📍𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐃 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 on 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 📣𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: From legal rights to functional & business-friendly rights for refugees A key reflection from today’s session was that progressive refugee laws and policies are only the starting point. Across IGAD Member States, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan—refugees have increasingly been granted rights to work, move, establish businesses and access national systems. But the critical question remains: do these rights work in practice? Experiences across the region show what becomes possible when refugees have recognised identification, business-development support, and access to digital and financial services—enabling them to establish enterprises, access and repay financing, create employment and contribute to local economies. The ambition is clear: move beyond policies on paper to measurable improvements in livelihoods, enterprise growth, financial inclusion and economic dignity for refugees and host communities alike. #IGADSupportPlatform #IGADRefugees

📣𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐠𝐞𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐃 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 Today in #AddisAbaba, Ethiopia 🇪🇹, @IGADSecretariat and @inkomoko launched a 3-day Regional Learning Exchange under the theme “Leveraging Private Sector Innovation for Refugee #SelfReliance.” The objective is to foster knowledge exchange and accelerate gender-responsive, digitally enabled pathways to jobs, enterprise growth, and economic inclusion for refugees, returnees, and host communities across the region. Key highlights: 🔹 Attendees include representatives from governments, financial institutions, private companies, refugee-led organizations, and refugee entrepreneurs. 🔹 Representing the Director, @IGADHealthS, IGAD's Senior Coordinator @WoldamlakA highlighted member states' progress in policy, legal, and institutional frameworks supporting access to employment, financial services, and skills. 🔹 IGAD reaffirmed its commitment to advancing refugee protection and durable solutions through strong multi-stakeholder partnerships. #IGADSupportPlatform #IGADRefugees