Cash for Refugees
Send money directly to families fleeing conflict and insecurity.
Refugees in both rural settlements and urban settings experience improved well-being after receiving cash transfers
Featured Upcoming ProgramS
Uganda
Cash+ Sustainable Livelihoods for Refugees
Expecting to launch in late 2024, this program will provide cash to long-term refugee and host communities in and around select rural settlements. Recipients will also have the option to participate in additional identified services to support long-term resilience and self-reliance.
Transfer Size
$1,000 one-time transfer
Partners
IKEA Foundation, UNHCR, Office of the Prime Minister
Featured ACTIVE ProgramS
Kenya
Cash+ Financial Inclusion for Refugees
Piloted in 2022 and scaling up in 2024, this program aims to lift vulnerable urban refugees in the Nairobi metropolitan area above the local extreme poverty line through large, unconditional cash transfers. Recipients have the option to participate in additional identified services to support long-term resilience and self-reliance.
Transfer Size
$925 across 2 payments (pilot)
Households Reached
1,182 (pilot)
Outcomes
This program builds on two other GiveDirectly large transfer programs for refugees in Uganda and Rwanda. Refugees often choose to settle in cities because of the independence and economic opportunities they provide. However, they can struggle to receive formal support in their host communities. It can be challenging for urban refugees to access financial systems, find sources of income, and secure their livelihoods.
So far, recipients report increased financial well-being:
- 6 months after receiving cash, recipients’ average income was 81% higher than it was before the program.
- 75% of previously unbanked recipients were able to open bank accounts and gain access to financial tools.
- Recipients were able to invest in existing businesses (29.5%) and start new ones (14.7%).
See how refugees are using cash to change their lives →
Partners
IKEA Foundation, REFUGE Point, UNHCR, Department for Refugee Services, Equity Foundation, Equity Bank
Featured PAST ProgramS
Uganda
COVID-19 Relief for Urban Refugees
Program that provided cash to urban refugee households in Kampala from 2022 to 2023. Transfers were timed to help recipients rebound from pandemic-related inflation and income losses.
Transfer Size
$750
Recipients Reached
1,200
Outcomes
Many refugees lost their source of income as micro-businesses went bankrupt in the aftermath COVID-19 pandemic. Prices for basic goods also went up, putting extra strain on vulnerable households. Recipients reported using the cash they received to re-establish their lost livelihoods — 43.18% invested in their existing business or started a new one. Other common spending areas were education, debt repayment, paying for basic needs, and saving for the future.
Partners
Department of Refugees at the Office of the Prime Minister, IKEA Foundation, Conrad Hilton Foundation
Uganda
Cash for Refugees, Kiryandongo
Program that delivered cash to refugees and host community members living in and around the Kiryandongo settlement from 2019 to 2022. Program included a randomized control trial to test the impact of the program in helping long-term refugees on their journey to self-sufficiency.
Transfer Size
$1,000 across 3 monthly installments
Households Reached
15,000
Outcomes
We surveyed recipients 19 months after they received their final cash transfer. The evaluation found that compared to a control group, refugees who received the cash scored higher on psychological well-being and self-reliance assessments. They were also spending 11% more, business ownership increased by 8.2%, and the value of the assets they owned increased by 60%.
Read more about the study here →
Partners
Global Innovation Fund, IKEA Foundation, Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation, IDInsight, UBS Optimus Foundation
RWANDA
Self-Reliance for Refugees
2019-2020 program in Mugombwa to test whether delivering large, one-time cash transfers accelerate refugees’ path towards self-reliance when compared to monthly subsistence payments or in-kind aid.
Transfer Size
~$720
Households Reached
2,264, including both refugees and host households
Outcomes
Cash transfers generated a wide-range of positive outcomes and immediate improvement in recipients’ lives: Post transfers i) 100% of surveyed recipients reported increases in assets, ii) 98% of surveyed recipients reported increases in income, iii) 81% of surveyed recipients reported using the transfer to pay down debt and iv) 70% of surveyed recipients reported increases in day to day consumption and spending.
Cash transfers have the potential to accelerate the path towards self-reliance: 60% of transfers were spent on long-term investments, providing a plausible path to sustainable self-reliance.
Cash transfers offer recipients the flexibility to adapt to and withstand shocks (e.g. COVID-19): Almost all refugees used part of pre-existing support (including but not limited to GiveDirectly cash transfers) as coping mechanisms to cover immediate needs resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19.
Partners
Government of Rwanda, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Cash empowers refugees to transform their lives
Immaculee started a convenience store and milk-selling venture
“As result of war, I fled with my children to join my husband who was already in Kenya. The financial support I received of $1,000 enabled me to establish a general store and initiate a milk-selling venture. Currently, I am able to generate a minimum of $20 per day on favorable days. In the past, financial limitations restricted me to purchasing a single type of food. Now, thanks to the earnings from my businesses, I can afford both maize flour and rice simultaneously. “
Kenya
Jurua bought chickens and a motorcycle
“My name is Jurua Nancy Mary 32, a refugee widow & a mother of 2, Onen 11 and Kakanyero 7 residing in Kiryandongo refugee settlement. In 2022, I was registered and got my first transfer and bought 50 chicks from Kampala which costed $68 including the transport and the feeds. After a month, I sold them and got $169. [From the] 2nd transfer, I saved $275 and added another 200 chicks. After two weeks, I sold each chicken at $4. When I received the 3rd transfer, I remembered I had a plan of buying a motorcycle, so I called my brother and we rushed and I bought it at $1,420. I got someone to operate it for me and I’m paid $14 weekly. As of April 2024, I have 1,200 chicken, I pay my brother commission to take care of them. I have $5,700 in savings.”
Uganda
Ayoo opened a tailoring training business
“I’m a widow staying with my 3 children in Cluster N, Kiryandongo refugee settlement. When I received my transfers from GiveDirectly, I used it for buying 2 sewing machines for $162 so it could generate for me money. With my knowledge of tailoring, I was able to start my work under someone’s veranda at Molokony trading center. I use the machines for training new learners and I’m paid $15 a month for each learner. I have so far trained 7 people. I have an average saving of $23 monthly. I’m using this money for paying my children’s school fees.”
Uganda
Didier improved his barber shop
“When I arrived in Kenya from Congo as a refugee in 2008, life was a struggle. After staying for quite some time, I located a place to run a barber shop. The transfers [GiveDirectly] gave me allowed me to improve my shop. My shop is [now] thriving. I increased my service charge from $1 to $2, and my income has risen to $400 per month. I even hired another employee, paying him on a commission basis. This move has contributed to the increase in my earnings.”
KenyaUrban refugee pilots reveal that large cash transfers help refugees move beyond humanitarian aid
Recipients from our urban refugee programs in Uganda and Kenya reportedly spend their transfers in the following common ways:
| Uganda 🇺🇬 | Kenya 🇰🇪 | |
|---|---|---|
| Grow businesses % of recipients spending part of the transfers on existing or new businesses | 52% (existing business) 35% (new business) | 73% (existing business) 20% (new business) |
| Feed their families % of recipients spending part of the transfers on food | 87% | 78% |
| Repay loans % of recipients spending part of the transfers on debt repayment | 59% | 11% |
In both programs, recipients reported increased income and school attendance for children. Diving deeper into Uganda, we found the following improvements:
↑ 3x in housing security 🏠
40% of recipients say they’re able to pay rent without difficulties 6 months post-transfers (versus 13% at baseline)
↑ 3x in food security 🌾
75% reported that their families were able to eat 2-3 full meals in the preceding day (versus 26% at baseline)
↑ 2x in healthcare access 🩺
74% reported receiving some or all of the healthcare they needed (versus 37% at baseline) 6 months post-transfers
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive my donation?
Donations made through this page will be directed exclusively to recipients who are registered refugees living in an African country.
How will my donation be delivered?
Funds are delivered directly to the recipient through mobile money technology for the vast majority of our programs. They receive the funds directly to a SIM card and are able to cash out safely and securely at their local mobile money station/kiosk/store.
How much money will people receive?
The transfer amount varies from program to program. Emergency relief transfers are smaller ($200-$500 range), whereas resilience-building transfers are larger ($800-$2,000) and are sometimes broken down into monthly payments.
Since 2018, 75-80% of funds for our refugee programs have gone directly to recipients as cash, with the remaining 20-25% used to cover the costs of getting it there (more here).
What is GiveDirectly?
GiveDirectly is a nonprofit that lets donors send money directly to the world’s poorest, no-strings-attached. We have delivered cash aid to 1.6M people across 13 countries, including crises and natural disaster responses.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States – you can give through one of our international partners to receive tax benefits outside the U.S.. GiveDirectly is a registered 501(c)(3), and our U.S. federal EIN is 27-1661997.
We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, and more. Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org for more information on ways to give.
Does giving cash to refugees cause tensions with host communities?
When GiveDirectly provides cash to refugees, we carefully consider the potential impact on host communities. Independent research on refugees in Rwanda and Uganda have shown that when cash transfers are thoughtfully implemented, they can benefit both refugees and host communities. By injecting funds into the local economy, cash transfers can increase demand for goods and services, potentially boosting local businesses and creating a positive economic ripple effect.
However, we recognize that tensions can arise if host communities perceive inequities or if the aid disrupts existing social dynamics. To mitigate these risks, we engage with both refugees and local residents to ensure transparent communication, equitable distribution, and to foster mutual understanding. As an example, 30% of the recipients in our 2024 refugee program in Nairobi are Kenyans, while the other 70% are refugees. Our goal is to support both groups and strengthen the overall community, working closely with local residents to address any concerns and adapt our programs accordingly.