Equity Group Managing Director and CEO Dr. James Mwangi has called for increased social inclusion of refugees in Africa. In his address to the delegates attending the 2nd edition of the Amaharo Refugee Forum in Accra, Ghana, Dr Mwangi called on stakeholders to equitably include refugees in societal processes and create an enabling environment for them to thrive in society.
The rise of internal and cross boarder conflicts across the continent and the world has affected millions of people. While humanitarian agencies and responsible governments have done their best to limit the impact on victims of forceful displacements, strategic and coordinated efforts need to be initiated to protect affected persons. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 108 million persons were forcibly displaced worldwide in 2022 due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, and disturbances in public order. About 74% of the displaced persons were hosted in low- and middle-income countries.
Dr Mwangi is adamant that the equitable provision of key essential services to refugees across the continent will be crucial in creating opportunities for wealth creation.
“Equity is partnering with UNHCR in line with our purpose which is to transform lives, give dignity and expand opportunities for wealth creation. We have realized that the surest way of integrating refugees with host communities is to build programs for them beyond the social safety net payments. The issue of refugees is too big for individual governments and requires coordinated efforts from the private sector,” said Dr. Mwangi at the Amaharo Refugee Forum.
Within the East Africa region, Equity Bank continues to provide inclusive financial services to thousands of refugees and Forcefully Displaced Persons (FDPs) living in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda South Sudan and DRC. The bank has been able to sustainably provide a wide range of services to refugees and host communities. The services provided by the bank include; access to savings, credit, payment, insurance and investment opportunities.
Under the bank’s financial inclusion agenda, the bank has been able to support refugees living in some of the biggest refugee camps on the continent – including Kakuma and Daadab refugee camp. The coordination between partners and key stakeholders has seen a deeper penetration of services to refugee communities. This has been key in integrating them more meaningfully in society.
Equity’s key partners in this regard include UNHCR – that has worked closely with the bank to develop mechanisms to enhance recognition of refugees by host countries and IFC to provide risk sharing guarantees.
“We chose to integrate refugees into our banking activities. We are now providing them with savings, provide them with loans, and enhance their capacity through financial training and entrepreneurship. We have worked closely with UNHCR to enhance mechanisms for integration of refugees into society,” added Dr Mwangi
As one of the largest banks on the continent with assets valued at more than Kshs. 1.3 trillion, Equity continues to play a key role in ensuring financial inclusion and social protection on the continent. Fostering integration and social cohesion between refugees and their host communities through social impact investments and livelihood opportunities has been key to promoting self-reliance and economic independence for displaced persons.
![The signing ceremony took place in Kisumu, with Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o representing the county government and UN-Habitat Executive Director in Kenya, Anaclaudia Rossbach, signing on behalf of the UN agency. Under the agreement, both parties commit to jointly implementing the housing upgrade project, which Governor Nyong’o said will primarily target vulnerable groups. “The PINUA programme [is] designed to benefit the most vulnerable members of the community,” Nyong’o said, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to fostering sustainable neighborhoods equipped with essential services. Beginning November 1, 2025, the county government, working with UN-Habitat, will launch pilot projects in Kibuye Estate and Muhoroni Sub-County, based on designs and models developed through extensive public participation. The programme will focus on upgrading informal settlements by providing essential social infrastructure such as schools, sanitation facilities, affordable rental housing, early childhood development centres, and public open spaces. It also supports incremental housing models, allowing families to progressively build and eventually own decent homes. Rossbach emphasized UN-Habitat’s global commitment to driving transformative change in urban areas: “This partnership is crucial in advancing our new strategy, which focuses on improving housing access and digitally transforming informal settlements for everyone.” According to UN-Habitat housing architect Fred Omenya, the pilot phase will begin in January 2026 with the construction of two blocks of 24 housing units in Kibuye Estate.](https://businessinsights.africa/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/About-us-still-25957706200_7ca2db7e5e_k-218x150.jpg "Kisumu, UN-Habitat sign Ksh2.7bn deal for social housing upgrade")
