Empowering enterprise: Refugees and hosts thrive with business support services in Kenya

© ILO

© ILO

In Kenya’s Garissa and Turkana Counties, many aspiring entrepreneurs—both refugees and local community members—face significant barriers when starting and sustaining small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). A lack of essential business skills and limited access to support services have constrained the economic potential of these communities. Recognising this challenge, the International Labour Organization (ILO) PROSPECTS programme—supported by the Government of the Netherlands and in partnership with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI)—has been providing business development services (BDS). These include Financial Education and the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) programme, aimed at empowering entrepreneurs to overcome these obstacles and seize opportunities for sustainable growth.

Institutional strengthening for impact

Since 2021, ILO PROSPECTS has worked with the Turkana and Garissa Chambers of Commerce to improve their operational effectiveness and outreach. This support included the development of strategic plans, recruitment and training of staff, provision of office equipment, and the establishment of sub-offices in Kakuma and Kalobeyei to increase accessibility for refugee and host community members.

"When we first engaged with the ILO, our membership stood at under 1,000. Today, we have over 6,000 members—including 2,500 refugees—,"

said Paul Erukudi, CEO of the Turkana Chapter of KNCCI.

Thanks to the capacity-building support provided by the ILO, which enabled us to expand our reach and better serve our communities.

Paul Erukudi, CEO of the Turkana Chapter of KNCCI.

The Garissa Chamber similarly benefited from institutional support. With ILO assistance, it launched a comprehensive five-year strategic plan (2024–2028), which has helped enhance coordination with county authorities and attract new development partnerships.

“Beyond giving us a strategic direction, the ILO’s support in building our institutional capacity—through training of its board members, staff development, and improved infrastructure—has significantly enhanced our ability to serve members. It has made us more visible, credible, and responsive to both government and development partners,” says Abdiwahid Ahmed Muhamed, CEO of the Garissa Chapter of KNCCI.

Delivering business development services

A core component of the initiative is the SIYB Programme and Financial Education, which has been instrumental in turning innovative ideas into sustainable businesses. By empowering both new and existing business owners, these trainings aim to foster an environment in which economic resilience and inclusive growth are attainable.

The project also extends its support through specialised training initiatives such as the Women’s Entrepreneurship Development (WED) Programme. This targeted approach addresses gender-specific challenges, ensuring that women receive tailored support in business planning and financial management—a critical factor in accessing loans and scaling their enterprises.

As of 2024, 2,652 entrepreneurs had been trained across the two Counties (1,323 men, 1,329 women, 933 refugees, and 9 persons with disabilities). The training programmes are designed to equip participants with skills in business idea development, planning, management, and financial literacy.

Christine Fazili Kalibanya, a refugee from Congo, transitioned from informal tailoring to establishing a registered fashion business. “I started with just one sewing machine under a tree,” she recalls. “After the SIYB and financial-education courses I joined two savings groups, put money aside, and secured a zero-interest grant that let me buy six more machines. Now, I employ two helpers and train other refugee women so they can open workshops of their own.”

Similarly, Fozia Abdullahi, a trader in Garissa, has expanded her enterprise following training in record-keeping and business planning, noting that, “Before the course I mixed the shop cash with household money and never knew if I was gaining or losing. Once I began separating profit, keeping daily stock cards, and banking every evening, I saw exactly where my money goes—and that clarity gave me the confidence to restock and grow.”

Supporting entrepreneurs beyond training

Mentorship & Market Linkages

The delivery of business development services under ILO PROSPECTS goes beyond classroom-based learning. Both the Turkana and Garissa Chambers have embedded post-training support structures to ensure that entrepreneurs not only acquire skills but are also positioned to apply them effectively.

Following the completion of training, entrepreneurs receive mentorship and follow-up support. This includes guidance on implementing business plans, record-keeping, reinvestment strategies, and legal registration. Where necessary, the Chambers provide technical assistance and referrals to institutions that offer financing or further enterprise development services.

“We don’t just train entrepreneurs and walk away,” explains Muhamed, CEO of the Garissa Chamber. “After class we visit their shops, review their books, fine-tune business plans, and link them to finance—from local Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) to grants from international development partners. We even opened a walk-in Business Information Hub where any trader can drop in for free advice, so progress continues long after the workshop ends.”

Jamii Biashara – digital marketplace

In Turkana, the Chamber has also supported entrepreneurs in establishing retail and wholesale networks, facilitating relationships with cooperatives and local traders to boost product visibility and demand.

To overcome the geographical and digital isolation many entrepreneurs face—especially in displacement-affected areas—the Turkana Chambers of Commerce, with ILO support, launched Jamii Biashara through the ILO PROSPECTS Innovation Challenge. The online platform serves as a local marketplace that showcases products and services, connects entrepreneurs with buyers and suppliers in Turkana and the country, and provides practical resources to improve day-to-day trading.

“Jamii Biashara will allow an entrepreneur in Kakuma to sell to a buyer in Nairobi—confidently and safely,” explains Erukudi, CEO of the Turkana Chamber. “This tool enhances visibility, reduces transaction risk, and opens new doors for entrepreneurs ready to scale.”

As of July 2025, Jamii Biashara counts 167 registered users, including 44 refugees and 123 members of the host community. Complementing the platform, KNCCI Turkana Chapter has trained more than 777 entrepreneurs in digital skills so they can leverage the platform fully.

Basket weaver Masika Masimengo says, “Before Jamii Biashara, I would weave one basket and wait for a customer who might never come. Now I upload photos, and customers I have never met find me online—from other villages and even towns I don’t know. Orders have increased, and my work no longer gathers dust in the stall.”

© ILO

© ILO

Tailor Saleh Wamwabi adds: “My shop was very local until Jamii Biashara taught me online marketing. I photograph the school uniforms I make, post them on the platform and on TikTok, and people call to place orders. It doubled my business and showed me how a phone can work for me, especially when I keep proper records the way we were taught.”

By combining stronger chambers, tailored skills training, post-training mentorship, and a digital marketplace, ILO PROSPECTS is helping refugee and host entrepreneurs translate ideas into sustainable enterprises—driving broader, inclusive growth across Turkana and Garissa.

“At the ILO, our goal is to create enabling environments where both refugee and host entrepreneurs can thrive,” says Caroline Njuki, ILO Chief Technical Advisor for PROSPECTS in Kenya. “By strengthening institutions like the Chambers of Commerce and delivering practical, inclusive business development services, we aim to unlock economic potential, enhance resilience, and foster long-term social cohesion in displacement-affected communities.”