Business development services (BDS) pilot for migrants and refugees under the EaSI Microfinance Guarantee

This fi-compass case study describes the Business Development Services (BDS) pilot within the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme, launched in 2018 to support financial and social inclusion of migrants and refugees in the EU. It provided partial coverage for the costs incurred by participating financial intermediaries for their mentoring, coaching and training activities for this vulnerable group. The pilot, managed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), has aided over 2 000 entrepreneurial migrants and refugees and played an important role in promoting self-employment among those that had previously been excluded from traditional credit channels.

For additional information, listen to the fi-compass podcast Episode 13: EaSI business development services pilot for migrants and refugees.