Opportunity International responds to the unique needs of refugees by building innovative programs that serve people who have been forced to flee their homes and resettle in a new area. In Colombia, all our programs include families who have been internally displaced by violence and refugees from neighboring countries. In Uganda, we provide programs that deliver financial services and training to families living in settlements. By meeting the multifaceted needs of these communities, we are affirming our commitment to people who are most vulnerable, marginalized, and at risk of extreme poverty.

The Need

People fleeing violence and oppression are some of the most vulnerable in the world. They face countless risks as they seek safety and security, and once they find a safe place to stay, they must find a way to provide for their families in an entirely new context. The UN Refugee Agency reports that, at the end of 2025, there were 41.6 million refugees globally, as well as 68.7 million people displaced within their own country due to conflict or violence. Seven in 10 refugees originate from just six countries, including Venezuela, which we see in our Colombia programs. Uganda hosts the largest number of refugees in Africa.

• 20% of the world’s refugee population live in Sub-Saharan Africa
• 80% of displaced people live in an area affected by acute food insecurity or malnutrition
• Half of refugee children are not in school

Our Programs and Products

Uganda

Uganda is home to over 1.5 million refugees from countries including South Sudan, DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Ethiopia, making it the largest refugee host country in Africa. Like any broad demographic category, refugees come from different countries and circumstances, and they have diverse abilities and skills. They are young and old, men and women, business owners, farmers, teachers, and health workers.

In June 2019, Opportunity International and its partners launched a program to help integrate and financially include refugees, promote self-reliance among refugees, and stimulate local economic activity in refugee settlements and surrounding host communities. Opportunity Bank of Uganda built the first branch in a refugee settlement in Nakivale and now has a second branch in Rwamwanja. We have created and improved over 3,000 jobs, catalyzed 7,000 loans, witnessed the opening of 25,000 accounts—$23 million in savings, $4 million in loans—and taught financial literacy to over 43,000 people.

Colombia

Over 7 million Colombians have been displaced due to civil strife; additionally, close to 3 million Venezuelans are living in Colombia due to their own country’s crisis. Refugees, migrants, and displaced persons live in under-resourced areas, starting over in communities where opportunities are limited.

Opportunity’s staff in Colombia works in marginalized communities where many refugees and displaced persons come to make a new life. We integrate refugees into savings group programs, providing them with a way to build economic stability and a livelihood after they left theirs behind.