This archive report was first published on 15 September 2021.
On September 14, 2021, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, announced the launch of a competition to support the growth of businesses in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps in northern Kenya's Turkana County.
The competition, which runs from September 14 to November 5, 2021, encourages businesses to submit proposals for funding and training aimed at facilitating their growth.
Other entities supporting the Local Enterprise Development Competition include the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), the Turkana County government, and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The competition aims to support private sector development and job creation in the drought-prone Turkana County, empower refugees and host communities.
According to Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu, IFC's regional director for Eastern Africa, the competition demonstrates the organization's commitment to local businesses in Kenya and its efforts to uplift host communities and refugees with private sector solutions.
Winners of the contest will be announced in early 2022 and will leverage new funding and capacity development to expand their businesses and transform the lives of refugees.
Victoria Sabula, CEO of AECF, noted that the competition targets small and medium-sized enterprises owned and operated by residents of Turkana County, including refugees, with a focus on businesses owned by women and youth.
