For centuries, Ethiopia has been at the crossroads of migration, trade, and resettlement. UNHCR estimates indicate that, as of March 2022, Ethiopia had more than 4.51M internally displaced people (IDP). With an economy that was largely closed-off from the rest of the world until recently, foreign investors continue to face numerous complications when investing in Ethiopia. As Ethiopia has now embarked on the journey to liberalize most of its state-directed economy and allow the private sector to play a key role in the country’s economic development, there is positive momentum that may ease some of these barriers.
The findings and recommendations presented in “Creating a Roadmap for Refugee Lens Investing in Ethiopia” will inform the Refugee Investment Network (RIN) and the broader Refugee Lens Investing (RLI) community on the unique barriers and opportunities present in Ethiopia for refugees and internally displaced people. Research has shown that displaced populations bring many positive benefits to their host communities, but such shifts in population dynamics are not always well-received. The investment analysis aims to highlight the social, economic, and policy nuances in Ethiopia, some of which inhibit integrated livelihood development for both host and refugee communities. Additionally, it outlines the unique opportunities to deploy RLI and support refugee-related economy building in the country.