Microcredit and other loan programs in protracted refugee situations: Lessons from the Alchemy Project

This paper is a compilation of best practices and lessons learned from the Alchemy Project, an experimental project aimed at supporting displaced people’s livelihoods by providing access to a variety of forms of credit. The paper emerged from the Alchemy Workshop held in Maputo, Mozambique, in February, 2004, which included background papers, two days of discussion and subsequent email follow-up. This document is practitioner-oriented, intended for aid agencies seeking to implement credit-based programs in refugee and IDP settings.