D 2024

SUPPORTING REFUGEE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN EUROPE: A NEW CHALLENGE TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

ZAKARIA, A K M and Jarmila DUHÁČEK ŠEBESTOVÁ

Basic information

Original name

SUPPORTING REFUGEE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN EUROPE: A NEW CHALLENGE TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Authors

ZAKARIA, A K M (50 Bangladesh, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Jarmila DUHÁČEK ŠEBESTOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Iasi, Enhancing EU Workforces: Advancing Skills in the Administrative Area for Europe's Future Proceedings of the International Conference EU-PAIR 2024, p. 53-62, 10 pp. 2024

Publisher

Editura Universităţii „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iaşi

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Stať ve sborníku

Field of Study

50204 Business and management

Country of publisher

Romania

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Publication form

electronic version available online

References:

Organization unit

School of Business Administration in Karvina

ISBN

978-606-714-907-4

Keywords in English

refugees; microfinancing; market policy

Tags

International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

V originále

Refugee entrepreneurship is emerging in countries where migrants seek to rebuild their lives after fleeing due to economic issues, war, or social problems. Refugees often struggle to enter the labour market quickly, making self-employment a viable option. Supporting refugee employment and entrepreneurship aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals. Business minorities typically rely on savings, financial support, or loans from family and friends. They need not only actively support but also financing sources. Another way to secure financial support for starting a business is through commercial support or contributions from the Office of Labour. Refugees face discrimination in lending policies due to a lack of credit history, similar to other start-up entrepreneurs. Financing is also linked to networking and obtaining credit from business partners outside their community. Creating microfinance groups, getting support from microfinance institutions (MFIs), or crowdfunding are suggested solutions. Active interventions must be tailored to national principles focusing on the specific characteristics and situations of refugee groups. Motivating donors and others to support sustainable systems and programs to create a sufficient ecosystem is challenging. The success of these programs is still debated, and measuring real impact is difficult. This article aims to review existing possibilities within EU countries and suggest policy development in countries with higher refugee rates. The research problem is closely related to active labour market policy within countries; a significant group at risk in the labour market includes people of other ethnicities. A qualitative examination of successful programs demonstrates ways to support them. The findings could suggest cooperation between nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and refugee-led groups to support access to public or private support and provide financial knowledge for start-up training under the wings of public or private organization.