Rebuilding livelihoods in displacement

The report finds that while identification and mobile money access for refugees in Uganda improved significantly due to policy changes, formal financial service adoption remains hindered by high transaction costs and long travel distances to agents. Refugees rely heavily on non-employment income and informal savings groups (ASCAs and ROSCAs), with a notable increase in cash kept at home for health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately reduced refugee incomes and increased expenditures, particularly for food and medicine. The report recommends expanding branchless banking, improving digital and financial literacy, and introducing microinsurance and sustainable energy solutions to enhance refugee financial health.

• Refugee identification improved from 94% at baseline to 99% at endline, though the type of ID significantly impacts financial access; 47% of those with a National ID could access financial services compared to only 17% with a Family Attestation letter.
• Mobile money usage among refugees saw a dramatic increase from 29% to 61% between the baseline and endline, driven by a 2020 policy change allowing refugees to own SIM cards in their own names.
• Non-employment income, including cash and voucher assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP), remains the primary income source for 87% of refugees, though recipients reported significant reductions in aid, such as a 60% cut in cash-based transfers in Nakivale.
• Gender disparities exist in livelihoods; men are more likely to have regular employment and contractual work, while women-owned businesses tend to be smaller, concentrated in low-margin sectors like vegetable stalls, and less likely to grow.
• There was a sharp increase in refugees keeping cash at home, rising from 29% at baseline to 59% at endline, primarily to ensure immediate access to funds for health emergencies.
• Formal financial services are underutilized due to high transaction costs—sometimes reaching 15,000 UGX to access funds—and the need to travel long distances, with some refugees walking two hours each way to reach an agent.
• The COVID-19 pandemic caused a more severe income decrease for refugees than for host communities, with 72% of respondents in Nakivale reporting a significant decrease in income.
• Refugees face high expenditures on charcoal for heating and cooking, spending an average of 35,000 UGX per month, which the report identifies as an opportunity for PAYGo solar and clean energy solutions.
• Financial health varies by region, with Bidi Bidi (69.7%) and Palorinya (56.7%) showing higher levels than Nakivale (15.6%) and Kampala (15.4%).
• Medical costs have risen significantly, with the median cost for medicine increasing from 5,000 UGX at baseline to 20,000 UGX at endline.

APA

FSD Africa (2022). Rebuilding livelihoods in displacement. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ENDLINE-REPORT-Rebuilding-livelihoods-in-displacement-eversion-28022022_compressed.pdf

Chicago

FSD Africa. Rebuilding livelihoods in displacement. 2022. https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ENDLINE-REPORT-Rebuilding-livelihoods-in-displacement-eversion-28022022_compressed.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=FSD Africa |title=Rebuilding livelihoods in displacement |date=March 2022 |url=https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ENDLINE-REPORT-Rebuilding-livelihoods-in-displacement-eversion-28022022_compressed.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fsdafrica2022rebuilding, author = {{FSD Africa}}, title = {{Rebuilding livelihoods in displacement}}, institution = {FSD Africa}, year = {2022}, month = mar, url = {https://fsdafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ENDLINE-REPORT-Rebuilding-livelihoods-in-displacement-eversion-28022022_compressed.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }