SPARK
Enhancing education and entrepreneurship in conflict-affected regions
By Alex Barton
Summary
While injury, displacement and loss of life are the most visible and heartbreaking consequences of conflict, they are not the only ones. Conflict also restricts access to stable employment, education, and other essential services that allow communities to recover and prosper.SPARK, an international NGO, creates pathways for young people (particularly women and refugees) in conflict-affected regions to study, work, and build their own businesses.Over the past three decades, SPARK has created over 30,000 jobs and provided more than 14,000 scholarships.Their model demonstrates the value of investing in education and economic opportunities as key pillars for rebuilding war-torn societies.
Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Ukraine, Lebanon, Kashmir… conflict is casting an increasingly long and dark shadow around the world. Between July 2023 and June 2024 alone, over 165,273 violent conflict events were recorded globally, marking a 15% increase from the previous year.
While loss of life, injury, and displacement are the most visible and heartbreaking consequences of conflict, they are not the only ones. Conflict also erodes access to stable employment, education, and other essential social services that allow societies to thrive.
Students and entrepreneurs in conflict-affected regions often find themselves without the support or stability they need to learn or earn a living, no matter how talented or motivated they are. The long-term socioeconomic impact of war, therefore, perpetuates cycles of poverty, division, and economic turmoil, compounding the suffering of those living in fragile states.
In 2011, the Global Monitoring Report found that armed conflict was denying 28 million children their right to an education. Shockingly, education accounts for just 2% of global humanitarian aid, despite its essential role in building the foundation for future recovery. The lack of investment in education only worsens the socioeconomic divide, leaving young people without the tools they need to escape the grip of conflict.
Economic opportunities and employment are just as critical for helping people rebuild their lives in war-torn areas. The destruction of infrastructure, reduced demand, and lack of investment create barriers to entrepreneurship, preventing long-term socioeconomic recovery and stability.
A study on female entrepreneurs in Libya during the Arab Spring illustrates this vividly. Researchers highlighted the "indeterminate everyday dangers" faced by women attempting to run businesses amidst bombings, gunfire, and social unrest. The risks were not limited to physical harm; the destruction of property, loss of life, and the fear of being deliberately targeted due to perceived wealth added layers of complexity to their struggles.
When peace-building efforts fail and conflict breaks out, it is the civilian population that disproportionately bears the brunt of the violence. Fortunately, there are numerous NGOs and international institutions that do what they can to provide essential resources such as food, water, and healthcare to conflict zones and fragile states. However, while these efforts are undeniably vital, they often overlook measures that can be taken to ensure long-term recovery and prosperity.
One organization addressing this gap is SPARK, an international NGO that creates pathways for young people—particularly women and refugees—in conflict-affected regions to study, work, and build their own businesses. SPARK's mission is to develop higher education and entrepreneurship opportunities that empower ambitious youth to lead their societies out of conflict and into prosperity. By doing so, they bring much-needed stability to some of the world’s most fragile regions. They do this by:
Partnering with local stakeholders to enhance the capacity of economic and educational institutions.
Supporting local initiatives that promote employment and entrepreneurship.
Strengthening institutional structures by improving the managerial capacity of institutions involved in poverty reduction.
Promoting the participation of local organisations in policy-making processes at all levels, fostering new opportunities for students and entrepreneurs.
SPARK’s work spans across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. To date, some of their most successful initiatives have included: educating young refugees in Jordan, enhancing youth activism in Iraq and working with local stakeholders to build a fish-processing centre in Burundi.
Over the past three decades, SPARK has created over 30,000 jobs and provided more than 14,000 scholarships, becoming the largest scholarship provider for Syrian refugees in the Middle East.
For example, Noor, a Syrian refugee in Jordan, was able to pursue a business administration degree through a SPARK scholarship. Today, she runs a small business that employs other women in her community, giving them a path to financial independence and helping to rebuild a sense of normality in a war-torn region. Stories like Noor’s highlight the real-world impact of SPARK’s work.
While addressing the immediate needs of people in conflict zones is essential, it is equally important to focus on their long-term well-being and security. SPARK’s model demonstrates the value of investing in education and economic opportunities as key pillars for rebuilding war-torn societies. Other aid organisations and NGOs can learn from this approach, understanding that providing short-term relief is only one part of the solution. Offering hope and stability through sustainable development is just as crucial for helping fragile states recover and thrive.