Empathy in action: unravelling crowdfunding dynamics for female refugee entrepreneurs in Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine

Abstract

Crowdfunding has become a vital tool for bridging funding gaps, particularly for marginalised groups such as women and refugee entrepreneurs. This study aims to investigate the impact of entrepreneur gender and sectorial dominance on crowdfunding outcomes for female and male refugees, using the lens of sector studies and Role Congruity Theory. To empirically test our hypotheses, we gathered data about refugee entrepreneurs who seek capital for their business ventures on the Kiva crowdfunded microfinance platform. Our research highlights the unique challenges faced by female refugee entrepreneurs, including discriminatory financing practices and lack of formal documentation. However, crowdfunding platforms like Kiva offer crucial financial access, outperforming traditional financial institutions. We found that female refugee entrepreneurs often outperform their male counterparts in crowdfunding, especially in male-dominated activities. Moreover, campaigns located in refugee camps show positive crowdfunding outcomes, emphasising the value of these settings for women-led initiatives. Overall, crowdfunding offers a promising alternative for female refugees, overcoming significant barriers to entrepreneurship in both refugee camps and broader contexts, as well as providing implications for enhancing financial inclusion and supporting gender equity in entrepreneurial spaces.