The idea is that entrepreneurship training, financial education and vocational training will enable refugees to start micro-enterprises or small income-generating activities that will provide a means of livelihood and lead to self-reliance. While these approaches can succeed in promoting short-term incomeearning opportunities for refugees, they often run into significant problems in the long term, particularly when implemented on a large scale. For instance, several people may start up the same “traditional” incomegenerating activities, such as selling vegetables or hairdressing, in locations where market demand for these products and services is already satisfied. This may result in negative spillover effects on members of the host community who are already operating in these traditional sectors.
Photo Credit: Tabitha Ross
Access the original publication here: http://www.ilo.org/empent/areas/value-chain-development-vcd/WCMS_550036/lang–en/index.htm