Mitchelle Nthambi blow dries hair of a client before starting to braid it at her salon in Utawala. Mitchelle received a business grant from the IRC & IKEA Foundation’s Re:BUiLD program

Opportunity: Register for the IRC's Re:BUiLD Business Grant and Join Refugee-Host Networks in Nairobi

Are you a registered urban refugee living in Nairobi? Do you have a desire to start or grow a business? The Re:BUiLD program has an opportunity for you. ONLY eligible urban refugees and Kenyans will be considered for the RCT Wave 2 business grants and a chance to join refugee and host networks in Nairobi! 
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Microenterprise support opportunity for refugees and Kenyans in Nairobi

The International Rescue Committee (IRC’s) Re:BUiLD Program is looking to identify eligible people interested in starting micro businesses or growing their existing micro businesses in Nairobi and Kampala. The Refugees in East Africa: Boosting Urban Innovations for livelihoods Development (Re:BUiLD) is a program being implemented under the IKEA Foundation partnership with the IRC to enable urban refugees and local residents alike to earn a decent income so they can support their families and afford a better life.

Mitchelle Nthambi applies gel polish to a client’s nails at her salon in Utawala. Mitchelle received a business grant from the IRC & IKEA Foundation’s Re:Build program as part of microenterprise Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in Nairobi which helped her to expand her salon business.

Mitchelle Nthambi, 24, applies gel polish to a client’s nails at her salon in Utawala. Mitchelle received a business grant from the Re:BUiLD program as part of microenterprise Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in Nairobi which helped her to expand her salon business. Photo: E. Otieno/IRC.

How will the IRC’s Re:BUiLD program support clients to start or grow their businesses?

Re:BUiLD is rolling out the second phase of its Randomized Control Trial (RCT) for micro enterprise development. The support shall be delivered through a study targeting 8,000 direct participants, with 4,000 clients in Nairobi and 4,000 clients in Kampala. Participants shall be offered an opportunity to network and receive individual business grants from Re:BUiLD. It is anticipated that there will be an equitable distribution of refugees and hosts, as well as a balanced representation of women and men in the RCTs. Only those who will have met all the requirements for participation shall be selected to participate in the study.

What are the eligibility criteria for the Re:BUiLD program’s support?

NOTE: We are exclusively seeking refugees from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi, Sudan, and South Sudan. The required number of clients for Kenyans and Congolese refugees has already been met.

To be considered eligible and register for business support under the Re:BUiLD program’s RCTs, interested participants must meet the following requirements;

  1. Have valid Identification Documents (IDs)

    Refugees should have Refugee identification documents, verified by the Department of Refugee Services in Kenya (DRS) and recognized by the UN Refugee agency (UNHCR) as urban refugees. Only two refugee documents will be accepted during registration.

    • A valid Refugee ID 

    • Proof of Registration

  2. Age: Must be between the ages of 18 - 45 years.

  3. Location: Applications will only be accepted from refugees and Kenyans residing within the Nairobi Metropolitan area. This includes areas but is not limited to:

    • Kitengela, Umoja, Rongai, Kawangware, Molwem, Kayole, Kasarani, Githurai, Dagoreti (Kawangware and its surrounding areas), Kikuyu, Kangemi, Zambezi, Eastleigh, Jamuhuri, Ruiru and areas along Jogoo Road.

  4. Language: Interested participants should demonstrate ability to speak English or Swahili at conversational level. 

  5. Business experience: Interested people should demonstrate having an interest in starting a business OR confirm to have some previous business/entrepreneurship experience. 

  6. Availability: All successful applicants MUST be committed to attend at least 2 hours of weekly meetings for 3 months from the start of the first session.

  7. Persons who have previously received any livelihood services from the IRC will NOT be considered. 

A group of IRC clients comprising of Kenyans and refugees during and Economic and Social Empowerment (EA$E) training held in October 2023 in Rongai, Nairobi, Kenya

A group of IRC clients comprising of Kenyans and refugees during and Economic and Social Empowerment (EA$E) training held in October 2023 in Rongai, Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: E. Otieno/IRC. 

How to apply be part of the IRC’s Re:BUiLD program Wave 2 RCTs for 2024

The registration process will start in January 2024. Interested individuals can visit the IRC at the Re:BUiLD program Livelihoods Resource Centers (LRC) for eligibility screening and registration. You should carry your identification documents when coming to register at the LRCs. 

Registration will be conducted on weekdays (Monday – Friday) between 9am and 5pm starting Monday 22nd to Wednesday 31st January 2024.

In Nairobi, visit any of our nearby LRCs listed below to express your interest in the RCTs:

Additional Information for interested persons.

  • Please note that ALL IRC services are FREE. There is no charge for application or enrollment into the program.

  • Applicants will be asked to submit copies of identification or registration documents to the IRC.

  • IRC will contact selected applicants based on availability of opportunities and applicant’s fit for service.

Have questions, concerns or need additional information?

Call our field offices from Monday to Friday, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. Normal call rates will apply.

Information on how to register, receive IRC’s Re:BUiLD program business grant and join refugee and host networks in Kampala can be found here.