FAQ Group: Rafode LTD

1. Develop products that attract clients in such areas by listening to their needs and understanding their income cycles.
2. Employ local staff to build up confidence and support acceptance of the enterprise or intervention among the community.

1. A significant increase in the use of renewable energy.
2. Cash savings from no longer having to purchase expensive, unsafe and unsustainable fuels like charcoal or kerosene.
3. Reduction in household and environmental pollution.
4. Improved businesses and increased incomes.

Our aim is to provide financial services and renewable energy products for both the host community and the refugees, to support their micro and small businesses and also for household use. We see the portfolio in Turkana County growing to over US$3,000,000 in the next 5 years.

The challenges we have faced so far include:

1. The communication barrier, since most of the refugees do not speak English: To overcome this challenge, we have employed staff in the various regions to assist with translation.
2. Trust issues: Many clients, in both the host and refugee communities, have expressed misgivings about issues to do with trust as a result of being conned before and losing
   their savings. We are building trust by sensitising our clients and working with a faster turn-around time.

Rafode was interested working with refugee populations, hence the decision to venture into the northern part of Kenya, which is classified as underserved. We applied for the funding to support our entry into Turkana County.