Pioneering evidence shows how entrepreneurship model can reduce extreme poverty among refugees

• New studies show DREAMS program boosts incomes, savings, and resilience in refugee communities across East Africa
• The IKEA Foundation has committed $7.4m to fund the next stage of DREAMS in Ethiopia while the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has granted $3.5m in funding for the next stage of DREAMS in Uganda
  
  

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New evidence released today shows that a combined approach of entrepreneurship support and market access can significantly reduce extreme poverty among refugees and host communities in East Africa.

Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the DREAMS (Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems) program—implemented by Village Enterprise and Mercy Corps—found that participating households saw meaningful economic gains within a year, even in some of the world’s most challenging refugee settings.