Aimé Rebecca, a social impact entrepreneur, strives to give refugee women a shot at financial independence and sustainable livelihood.
In 2019 the number of international migrants worldwide reached nearly 272m, up from 153m in 1990. Migrant populations are growing faster in Northern Africa, Western Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa than in other regions.
With 1.4 million refugees, primarily from South Sudan and Congo DRC, Uganda hosts the largest refugee population in Africa.
This puts pressure on already strained public services and natural resources and generates tensions with the host communities.
In addition to political instability in neighbouring countries, migration is also linked to natural disasters and extreme weather. Climate change forecasts indicate a likely increase in these trends.
The diversification of livelihood strategies is a top priority under Uganda’s Refugee Response Plan. However this requires a decisive support for individual entrepreneurship.
I recently had an inspiring conversation around these issues with Aimé Rebecca, founder and CEO of Patapia Services.
I came to Uganda as a refugee from Congo when I was 13. It was very hard, we didn’t know anyone nor speak the language.
I had to start working to support my family and started selling someone’s products door to door. My revenue was scarce and I was very exposed.
As for many other refugee women in Uganda, starting her own business seemed the only solution.
As a result, in 2018, she founded Village Savings and Loans group, which managed to support 30 women in launching their activity. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 crisis and insufficient entrepreneurial skills, all supported businesses collapsed.
Since 2019 Patapia Services provides training and financial services to refugee women in Uganda, to help them start their own business. Loans are provided without collateral and with flexible repayment period between 6 and 24 months.
To overcome the lack of collateral, a group of five women entrepreneurs are collectively responsible for paying back the loan, so they hold each other accountable.
Moreover, entrepreneurs have the chance to open a savings account, which allows them to accumulate some capital to grow their business.
Patapia is achieving significant social impact. It supported 50 businesses, trained 100 women and improved the livelihoods of more than 300 refugees. In addition, achieving financial independence allows refugee women to send their children to school and become more integrated in the host community.
In 2020 , Aimé has been recognised among the Meaningful Business 100, an award that identifies CEOs and business leaders combining profit and purpose to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Among the things Aimé said, a simple but powerful message stuck with me: We are the change we want to see.
Needless to say that this interview inspired me and opened my eyes. The whole conversation is available on the Imperial MBA Women’s podcast on Apple, Spotify, Podbean and Google Podcasts.