”For-Profit Humanitarians: IKEA’s Partnership with the Jordan River Foundation” is a research report published by the Urban Institute in August 2018.
This case study highlights a unique type of private sector engagement in which mainstream business interests align with the needs of refugees and host communities. The IKEA-Jordan River Foundation (JRF) partnership demonstrates how diverse stakeholders can identify synergies, overcome legal and practical barriers, and sustain collaborations through effective management structures. This case study examines the IKEA-JRF partnership in the context of Jordan’s refugee policy, including the government’s priorities, humanitarian strategies, and the for-profit private sector’s response. It describes the partnership in detail, including the incubation phase, business model, investments from each side, risks and lessons learned for possible replication. It offers suggestions for overcoming barriers to forming and expanding similar partnerships.
Download the full report here.