Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Refine and develop a scalable business model that advances sustainable livelihoods for forcibly displaced populations in East Africa.
The Problem
Forced displacement is one of the defining social crises in our lifetimes. The number of forcibly displaced people (FDP) — a population that includes refugees, internally displaced people, asylum seekers, hosting communities, and those displaced by conflict or climate impacts — surpassed 80 million in 2020, and projections suggest that 250 million to 1 billion could be displaced worldwide by 2050 from climate change alone.
Eastern Africa is being affected by a series of destabilizing social and climatic shocks that are forcing displacement. This is especially concerning given that the region currently hosts over 4.5 million refugees and 8 million internally displaced people. Humanitarian efforts—while critical—often do not address the longer-term, systemic challenges around employment, economic opportunity, and self-reliance presented by this crisis for the region's millions of refugees, asylum seekers, and people displaced by climate change. Most forcibly displaced people will never return home, and durable solutions within hosting communities are needed.
Refugee owned, refugee-led, or refugee-supporting social enterprises can help to unlock the potential of forcibly displaced communities with business models that promote self-reliance: the social and economic ability of forcibly-displaced people and their host communities to meet their essential needs without external aid. To assist social entrepreneurs who work in or seek to expand into this space, this accelerator will equip leaders with the moral leadership lessons, business skills, and learnings from our portfolio companies to confidently scale their enterprises and build scalable, inclusive, and sustainable solutions.
About Acumen Academy
Acumen Academy is the world's school for social change. Our mission is to provide anyone, anywhere the skills and community to drive social change. Watch interviews with experts in the social impact space, learn the best practices of successful entrepreneurs, and access extra learning opportunities to support you on your journey.
Like what you see? Want to learn more?
Check out our curriculum of free and low-cost courses at acumenacademy.org
Facebook: facebook.com/AcumenAcademy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acum...
Twitter: twitter.com/acumenacademy
Instagram: instagram.com/acumenacademy
Refine and develop a scalable business model that advances sustainable livelihoods for forcibly displaced populations in East Africa.
The Problem
Forced displacement is one of the defining social crises in our lifetimes. The number of forcibly displaced people (FDP) — a population that includes refugees, internally displaced people, asylum seekers, hosting communities, and those displaced by conflict or climate impacts — surpassed 80 million in 2020, and projections suggest that 250 million to 1 billion could be displaced worldwide by 2050 from climate change alone.
Eastern Africa is being affected by a series of destabilizing social and climatic shocks that are forcing displacement. This is especially concerning given that the region currently hosts over 4.5 million refugees and 8 million internally displaced people. Humanitarian efforts—while critical—often do not address the longer-term, systemic challenges around employment, economic opportunity, and self-reliance presented by this crisis for the region's millions of refugees, asylum seekers, and people displaced by climate change. Most forcibly displaced people will never return home, and durable solutions within hosting communities are needed.
Refugee owned, refugee-led, or refugee-supporting social enterprises can help to unlock the potential of forcibly displaced communities with business models that promote self-reliance: the social and economic ability of forcibly-displaced people and their host communities to meet their essential needs without external aid. To assist social entrepreneurs who work in or seek to expand into this space, this accelerator will equip leaders with the moral leadership lessons, business skills, and learnings from our portfolio companies to confidently scale their enterprises and build scalable, inclusive, and sustainable solutions.
About Acumen Academy
Acumen Academy is the world's school for social change. Our mission is to provide anyone, anywhere the skills and community to drive social change. Watch interviews with experts in the social impact space, learn the best practices of successful entrepreneurs, and access extra learning opportunities to support you on your journey.
Like what you see? Want to learn more?
Check out our curriculum of free and low-cost courses at acumenacademy.org
Facebook: facebook.com/AcumenAcademy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acum...
Twitter: twitter.com/acumenacademy
Instagram: instagram.com/acumenacademy
