ADRA, Opportunity Bank partner to unlock affordable finance for refugee farmers

What the report says

ADRA Uganda, ADRA Denmark, Opportunity Bank Uganda and the Danish cooperative bank FasterOikos are developing a blended finance model aimed at improving access to affordable credit for refugee and host-community farmers in Kyaka II and Rwamwanja refugee settlements in Uganda. The plan is being advanced through the From Savings to Sustainability project and is designed to help village savings groups expand into agriculture and other income-generating activities.

According to Nile Post, the partners met at Opportunity Bank Uganda’s offices in Kamwokya for a two-day technical session from August 31 to September 1, 2026, to work out the structure of the proposed facility. The model is expected to combine community savings, concessional capital, commercial lending and risk-sharing guarantees, with repayment terms and loan products tailored to savings groups. The partners also said they are considering ways to manage foreign exchange risk so loans can be offered in Uganda shillings.

ADRA Uganda said refugee-led savings groups have shown strong discipline, but high lending rates still limit their ability to scale up. Opportunity Bank said it wants to extend financial services to underserved groups, including refugees, women and youth, while ADRA Denmark said it is looking to support more sustainable economic opportunities for farming communities. The initiative reflects a wider effort by development and financial institutions to move refugee households from reliance on aid toward more durable livelihoods through finance, skills and market access.