Opportunity for Change: Rethinking Support for Ukrainian Refugee Entrepreneurs in Poland and Germany
A new report, Opportunity for Change: Strengthening Refugee Self-Employment in Poland and Germany, highlights a critical gap in how Europe supports refugee entrepreneurship. Based on research with Ukrainian refugee entrepreneurs and business development service (BDS) providers in Poland and Germany, the study argues that traditional approaches to refugee integration often fail to unlock the economic potential of a highly educated and entrepreneurial population.
The report was developed within the ESF+-funded OPPORTUNITY project and proposes a new framework, the Opportunity Self-Employment Model, designed to help Ukrainian refugees move from survival-driven self-employment towards sustainable and growth-oriented entrepreneurship.
Ukrainian Refugees Bring High Human Capital, But Face Persistent Barriers
The report notes that Ukrainian refugees represent a unique refugee population. Most arrived with substantial professional experience and educational qualifications, yet many continue to experience labour market exclusion or work below their skill level.
For many, entrepreneurship has become both a necessity and an opportunity. Some seek self-employment to escape low-wage work and support their families, while others aim to rebuild businesses they previously operated in Ukraine or pursue new market opportunities.
However, starting and growing a business in a new country presents significant challenges. Entrepreneurs interviewed for the study cited:
- Complex legal, tax and administrative systems
- Difficulties opening bank accounts and accessing finance
- Limited understanding of local markets and consumer behaviour
- Language and cultural barriers
- Lack of business networks outside Ukrainian communities
- Non-recognition of qualifications and professional experience
A Major Disconnect Between Support Offered and Support Needed
One of the report’s strongest findings is the mismatch between the needs of refugee entrepreneurs and the support currently available.
While many BDS providers offer business planning, legal guidance and training programmes, refugee entrepreneurs frequently describe receiving generic information rather than practical, tailored support.
Entrepreneurs expressed a need for:
- Step-by-step guidance on business registration and compliance
- Market research and customer acquisition strategies
- Advanced financial planning and growth advice
- Long-term coaching and mentoring
- Access to relevant business networks
- Information on funding opportunities and investment readiness
The research found that support programmes are often short-term and project-based, while entrepreneurs need assistance that evolves alongside their businesses.
Psychosocial Support Is a Missing Piece
Perhaps the most significant finding is the role of psychosocial support (PSS) in refugee entrepreneurship.
The report argues that entrepreneurship cannot be separated from the realities of displacement. Many refugee entrepreneurs continue to experience uncertainty about their legal status, concern for family members in Ukraine, financial stress and the emotional consequences of forced migration.
Participants reported:
- Fear of failure and financial loss
- Reduced confidence in navigating unfamiliar systems
- Social isolation
- Lack of emotional support
- Difficulties balancing business development and caregiving responsibilities
Despite these challenges, psychosocial support is often absent from entrepreneurship programmes or treated as a secondary issue.
The report concludes that resilience-building, peer support and access to professional psychological services should be embedded within entrepreneurship support rather than offered separately.
Three Distinct Types of Entrepreneurs
The research challenges the idea that refugee entrepreneurs can be supported through a single standard programme.
Instead, it identifies three broad profiles:
From Fragmented Services to an Integrated System
To address current shortcomings, the report proposes the Opportunity Self-Employment Model, which combines:
- Tailored business development services
- Integrated psychosocial support
- Cultural cohesion and networking activities
- Long-term mentoring and follow-up support
- Collaboration between public institutions, civil society and the private sector
Rather than treating entrepreneurship as a short-term pathway to income generation, the model views refugee-led businesses as drivers of economic integration, job creation and social cohesion.
The framework emphasises continuous engagement, recognising that entrepreneurial success often develops over years rather than weeks or months.
Policy Implications
The report calls on policymakers, funders and support organisations to move beyond fragmented project-based interventions.
Key recommendations include:
- Shifting towards multi-year, flexible funding models
- Simplifying business registration and banking procedures
- Expanding access to microloans and tailored financial products
- Strengthening cooperation between business support providers
- Embedding psychosocial support into entrepreneurship programmes
- Creating structured mentorship and networking opportunities with local business communities
Key Findings
- Ukrainian refugees possess significant entrepreneurial potential but face structural, cultural and psychological barriers.
- Current support systems frequently provide generic advice rather than tailored, practical guidance.
- Long-term mentoring and post-launch support remain major gaps in both Poland and Germany.
- Psychosocial support is essential for entrepreneurial success and should be integrated into business support services.
- Refugee entrepreneurs are not a homogeneous group and require differentiated support pathways.
- Networking and access to local business communities are among the most valuable forms of non-financial support.
- The proposed Opportunity Self-Employment Model offers a more holistic and sustainable approach to refugee entrepreneurship.
The report argues that refugee entrepreneurship should not be viewed solely as a survival strategy. With the right support, Ukrainian entrepreneurs can become important contributors to local economies, job creation and social innovation across Europe.
