The Refugee empowerment and development Agency (REDA) is a humanitarian organization located in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, northern Uganda. It was established in 2022 by a group of determined refugee youths comprising of 2 males and 2 females who were shaped by the experience of war and displacement and driven by a shared vision for change. They came together to rewrite their own stories and transform the lives of individuals, families and communities living in refugee settings. Refugees experience significant personal, social and systemic challenges in their daily lives affecting their physical and mental health causing high level of leaving many without purpose or direction.

REDA began as Eco-Shoes Africa, a community-based organization that sought to address the challenge of refugee children lacking proper shoes for accessing  education. They supported refugee children with  proper footwear while training young people in sustainable shoe-making and entrepreneurship. As the founders worked closely with their communities, they realized that empowerment went far beyond footwear. It meant giving people the tools, skills, and confidence to rebuild their own lives. In 2025, the organization transformed into the Refugee Empowerment and Development Agency (REDA) to reflect its expanded purpose with a mission of restoring dignity, hope and self-reliance among refugees

REDA was established with the believe that every refugee has a strength and the capacity to change their own lives and solve their own problems. if empowered, they can take root, grow strong, and contribute towards sustainable development. Today, REDA stands as a symbol of resilience and transformation. Rooted in the experiences of its founders, the agency empowers refugees through livelihood and vocational training, psychosocial support, entrepreneurship development, education, and community sensitization.