Integrated Business Plan Competition
for Refugees and Host Communities
2026 to 2027
Partner
International Labour Organization (ILO), funded by the Government of the Netherlands under the PROSPECTS programme
Sector
Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development
Target
Reach 3,000 prospective entrepreneurs, train and support 900 participants, and provide financial awards and post-award support to 450 enterprises in Asosa,
The Integrated Business Plan Competition (BPC) is an 18-month entrepreneurship and enterprise-development programme implemented by FC Africa Development in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) under the PROSPECTS programme.
The BPC supports refugees and host-community members in Jigjiga/Fafan, Dabat/Alemwach and Assosa to strengthen viable business ideas and enterprises through entrepreneurship training, business plan development, coaching and mentoring, financial education, access-to-finance linkages, and financial awards for selected enterprises.
The programme goes beyond a conventional business competition by combining financial support with structured enterprise development. Participants move through a progressive journey from business ideation and training to business-plan development, transparent evaluation, financial awards and continued post-award support. The approach is designed to strengthen sustainable livelihoods, enterprise growth and economic inclusion while encouraging greater economic collaboration between refugees and host communities.
Strategic Focus Areas
The BPC combines entrepreneurship development, financial support and institutional linkages to help promising entrepreneurs build stronger and more sustainable enterprises. The programme focuses on five integrated areas:
01 Entrepreneurship and Business Skills Development
Equip aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with practical skills to start, strengthen and grow viable businesses.
02 Business Plan Development, Coaching and Mentoring
Support entrepreneurs to translate business ideas into realistic, market-responsive and financially viable business plans.
03 Financial Awards and Access to Finance
Provide seed financing to selected enterprises while strengthening entrepreneurs' connections to the formal financial system.
04 Inclusive Enterprise Development
Expand economic opportunities for refugees, host communities, women and young entrepreneurs.
05 Post-Award Enterprise Support
Help winning enterprises move beyond the award stage towards stronger and more sustainable operations.
Geographic Focus Areas
JIGJIGA / FAFAN
Somali Region
Supporting refugee and host-community entrepreneurs to develop market-responsive businesses through entrepreneurship training, business planning, financial education and enterprise support.
DABAT / ALEMWACH
Amhara Region
Strengthening entrepreneurship and enterprise development among refugees and surrounding host communities through skills development, financial support and continued business assistance.
ASSOSA
Benishangul-Gumuz Region
Expanding access to entrepreneurship support, business-development services and financial opportunities for refugees and host-community entrepreneurs.
Key Programme Outputs
3,000 Entrepreneurs
Prospective entrepreneurs reached through community, entrepreneurship awareness and business-ideation activities.
900 Participants
Participants supported through intensive entrepreneurship training, financial education and business-plan development.
450 Enterprises
Winning enterprises selected for financial awards and continued post-award business-development support.
ETB 54 Million
Total financial award pool allocated to the selected enterprises of the competition.