Stepped Approach to Stepped Approach to Improved LivelihoodsImproved Livelihoods

An Implementation Manual for An Implementation Manual for Refugee Camp & Post Conflict Refugee Camp & Post Conflict

Environment ProgramsEnvironment Programs

Brief Description of ARCBrief Description of ARC International private-voluntary International private-voluntary

organization committed to organization committed to assisting crisis-affected assisting crisis-affected populations with rebuilding populations with rebuilding their livestheir lives

Founded in 1979Founded in 1979 2180 employees (118 expatriate 2180 employees (118 expatriate

/ HQ and 2062 national)/ HQ and 2062 national) Programming in civil violence, Programming in civil violence,

warfare and other disasterswarfare and other disasters Refugees, internally displaced Refugees, internally displaced

and those at-riskand those at-risk Currently active in 8 countries Currently active in 8 countries

across 2 continents worldwide across 2 continents worldwide (Africa and Asia) (Africa and Asia)

Rationale for Developing SAILRationale for Developing SAIL

Business training and Access to Capital:Business training and Access to Capital:““Improve the livelihoods and economic self-sufficiency Improve the livelihoods and economic self-sufficiency

of refugee populations by providing a comprehensive of refugee populations by providing a comprehensive program of program of business trainingbusiness training and and access to capitalaccess to capital for entrepreneurs, especially women”for entrepreneurs, especially women”

Improve social and economic standing of refugees Improve social and economic standing of refugees particularly women in refugee campsparticularly women in refugee camps

Increases stability in refugee campsIncreases stability in refugee camps Facilitate refugee return- Facilitate refugee return- Refuge to ReturnRefuge to Return (R2R) (R2R) Standardize approach across all ARC programsStandardize approach across all ARC programs

Brief History of SAIL developmentBrief History of SAIL development Started in 1996 in GuineaStarted in 1996 in Guinea Originally termed IGPOriginally termed IGP Replicated in Sierra Leone and Replicated in Sierra Leone and

Liberia from 2003-05Liberia from 2003-05 Based on “what worked”Based on “what worked” ARC’s desire to standardize, ARC’s desire to standardize,

replicate and disseminate best replicate and disseminate best practicespractices

Technical guide from field with Technical guide from field with ARC HQ guidanceARC HQ guidance

Intended AudienceIntended Audience

Conceived as a starting pointConceived as a starting point Country Directors, Program Coordinators and Country Directors, Program Coordinators and

other management staffother management staff Accessible to other generalist staff and/or Accessible to other generalist staff and/or

other practitioners with varied background and other practitioners with varied background and experiencesexperiences

Relevance of SAIL for crisis-affected Relevance of SAIL for crisis-affected countries and other practitionerscountries and other practitioners

Targets vulnerable Targets vulnerable populations, especially populations, especially womenwomen

Tool for targeting refugees, Tool for targeting refugees, particularly women with particularly women with durable livelihoods strategy in durable livelihoods strategy in camps/post-campcamps/post-camp

Increases stability in campsIncreases stability in camps May accelerate returns to May accelerate returns to

home countrieshome countries Does not require the existence Does not require the existence

of MFI or other permanent of MFI or other permanent financial providerfinancial provider

Summary of SAIL ExperienceSummary of SAIL Experience Replications of SAIL ongoing in at Replications of SAIL ongoing in at

least 6 out of 8 countriesleast 6 out of 8 countries Currently 20,000 clients worldwide; Currently 20,000 clients worldwide; Reached total 75,000 clients overallReached total 75,000 clients overall Supports other MED projects: Supports other MED projects:

Women’s CommissionWomen’s Commission Burmese women refugees: Burmese women refugees:

Thailand, Thailand, Ugandan/South Sudanese women Ugandan/South Sudanese women

refugees: Northern Uganda, refugees: Northern Uganda, Southern SudanSouthern Sudan

Main strengths and weaknessesMain strengths and weaknesses

STRENGTHS:STRENGTHS: Technical guideTechnical guide Provides comprehensive Provides comprehensive

program of business training program of business training and access to capitaland access to capital

Improves choices, incomes Improves choices, incomes and self-empowermentand self-empowerment

Entrepreneur, especially Entrepreneur, especially women-focusedwomen-focused

Improves conditions of Improves conditions of households not just households not just individualsindividuals

WeaknessesWeaknesses Technical GuideTechnical Guide Requires market Requires market

assessmentsassessments Some donor restrictions on Some donor restrictions on

collecting “marketing data”collecting “marketing data” Requires some prior Requires some prior

technical knowledge of technical knowledge of MED for implementationMED for implementation

Combination of grants and Combination of grants and loansloans

Overall relevant issues related to Overall relevant issues related to SAILSAIL

Crisis affected environmentsCrisis affected environments Refugees, internally displacedRefugees, internally displaced Builds local capacityBuilds local capacity Facilitates return to host countryFacilitates return to host country Adaptable to differing economic levels of Adaptable to differing economic levels of

clientsclients

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?