Re:BUiLD Rebirth Launched to Scale What Works
Re:BUiLD Rebirth Launched to Scale What Works
Re:BUiLD Rebirth Launched to Scale What Works
16 July 2026, Assosa Ethiopia. A group photo of IRC staff, Government stakeholders, refugee and host community clients at the launch of the Re:BUiLD in Ethiopia. Photo by: Hermela Alemneh for the IRC.
At the beginning of this quarter, the Re:BUiLD program launched a 15-month extension, focusing on scaling financial inclusion, expanding partnerships for sustainability, and deepening advocacy for inclusive urban livelihoods for refugees and nationals in Kampala, Assosa, and Nairobi.
“This extension showed strong confidence in Re:BUiLD,” said Priscilla Dembetembe, Program Director, at the grant opening held recently in Nairobi. The €5 million extension, funded by the IKEA Foundation, began in April 2026 and aimed to reach about 3,000 refugees and nationals in the three cities. This brought the total IKEA Foundation investment in urban refugee livelihoods in East Africa to €35 million over seven years from 2021.
‘‘Re:BUiLD was a well-oiled machine. Securing €5 million confirmed the program’s strong performance,” Priscilla Dembetembe added in her address to partners and IRC staff from Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
Building on What Works
Between 2021 and 2025, Re:BUiLD served over 21,000 clients in Nairobi and Kampala, with 60% women and 59% refugees. Over 88% engaged in income activities, split between 52% self-employed and 48% wage employed.
USLAs, usually rural, proved effective in urban areas. About 230 Re:BUiLD USLA groups saved €160,500 annually. Refugee bankability pilots showed urban refugees are reliable clients. Partnerships with Equity Bank and UGAFODE had a 97% loan repayment rate. Randomized trials helped shape better services for refugees and hosts by showing that small unconditional business grants can help them start, sustain and grow businesses and improve their economic wellbeing.
In 15 months, this will guide work with Nairobi and Kampala authorities to include refugees in urban plans. Between 2021 and 2025, Re:BUiLD served over 21,000 clients in Nairobi and Kampala, with 60% women and In Kenya and Uganda, Re:BUiLD has expanded beyond Nairobi and Kampala. In Uganda, it now covers areas near Kampala, namely Mukono and Wakiso districts while in Kenya, it has reached Garissa and Turkana counties, growing its urban and peri-urban reach.
Building on this, Re:BUiLD launched in Ethiopia with IRC Ethiopia to boost financial inclusion in Assosa, focusing on removing barriers for refugees and vulnerable hosts. The Program Director Priscilla Dembetembe called this a strategic step to build a strong livelihood presence in Ethiopia, using proven methods to promote economic inclusion and self-reliance in new areas.
