As the UNHCR declares the number of forcibly displaced people around the world has surpassed a 100 million, host communities are struggling to integrate and provide decent work for refugees. One of the objectives of the UN-affirmed Global Compact on Refugees is to ease this pressure by heightening refugee self-reliance and refugee participation in the host community’s social and economic life through entrepreneurship. In order to understand whether and how this may be achieved, it is necessary to have a strong understanding of the nature of the entrepreneurial journeys of refugees and its impact on integration. This session brings together five academic researchers who will present their research conducted with these fascinating communities in the Global North and Global South. They will discuss where we currently are and where we need to go next to support them on their journeys.

Sophie Alkhaled will share her experiences with Syrian women refugees who turned to entrepreneurship as a means for survival in Jordan, The Zaatari Refugee Camp and the UK.

Deema Refai will be talking about refugee entrepreneurship and future research directions, building on her own research in both the UK and Jordan.

Michelle Richey will share her experience of fieldwork in Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobei settlement.

Ketch Adeeko will discuss the identity work that refugee women undertake in order to develop an entrepreneur identity and reclaim an authentic identity.

Laila Kasem will discuss practical considerations on how organisations can better support refugees as they integrate into their new home and to build lives they have reason to value.