Overview
Re:BUiLD has successfully generated and shared evidence on innovative, sustainable livelihood solutions that are already informing efforts to support refugees and host residents in East Africa and beyond. The program’s findings are meant to shape policies, improve service delivery, and guide future investments in urban refugee livelihoods.
Core Principles
Flexible & Adaptive | Continuous Experimentation | Client-Centered | Local Partnerships
Who We Are
The Re:BUiLD program, funded by the IKEA Foundation, is now in its fifth year of implementation in the cities of Kampala and Nairobi. Led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the program has brought together a consortium of local and international partners to deliver comprehensive livelihood interventions.
Re:BUiLD is designed to support urban refugees and vulnerable host community members in achieving economic self-reliance while fostering stronger, more inclusive urban economic, regulatory, and social systems. Over the past five years, the program has worked to create change at multiple levels—from expanding access to livelihood opportunities and inclusive services in local communities to influencing refugee-related policies and improving service delivery by national, regional, and global actors.
The program’s success is underpinned by its core features: flexible funding, an adaptive design that responds to evolving needs and contexts, and a strong focus on continuous learning through ongoing knowledge and evidence generation.
The Challenge
With nearly 80 million people displaced globally—most seeking opportunities in cities—urban refugees face major barriers to sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance. Despite cities being centers of economic potential, refugees and vulnerable residents often remain excluded from meaningful opportunities. Support programs are underfunded and lack evidence on what works.
To address this gap, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), with funding from the IKEA Foundation, launched the Refugees in East Africa: Boosting Urban Innovations for Livelihoods Development (Re:BUiLD) program. Now in its fifth and final year, Re:BUiLD is being implemented in Kampala and Nairobi. The program has generated evidence and scaled innovative livelihood solutions that have benefited both refugees and host communities—these are ultimately meant to influence policies, practices, and investments across East Africa and beyond.
According to data from UNHCR, East Africa hosts about 5.7 million refugees - many of them in urban areas
In these urban settings, refugees and vulnerable community members have limited opportunities for an adequate income to support their families and enrich their communities.
We have focused on supporting thriving economies and cohesive communities in a selection of low-income neighborhoods in Kampala and Nairobi.
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Data cited from UNHCR 30th April 2025
Client Reach Update
Our target was to reach 20,000 urban refugees and host community members—including women, men, and youth. We exceeded this, reaching 20,378 clients and achieving an impressive 104% of our goal.