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Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion

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Key points
  • Immediate access to livelihoods and economic inclusion contributes in vital ways to stabilization, and ensures food security, resilience and self-reliance for forcibly displaced and stateless populations
  • UNHCR recommends that, to improve economic inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless people in programmes and services, operations should convene and partner with organizations that specialize in livelihood stabilization and economic development, job creation, entrepreneurship support, and financial services from the onset of the emergency
  • CBI is the preferred modality of assistance. However, if the market assessment establishes that cash is not feasible, local procurement of necessary items should be prioritized to support local businesses and prevent distortion of local markets
  • Displaced and host populations should be contracted to perform necessary services and construction in the emergency response. However, the cash for work modality is a temporary, labor-intensive, short-term intervention which needs to pave the way to formal employment opportunities in collaboration with relevant partners
  • According to the RCM, UNHCR will co-coordinate the livelihoods and economic inclusion sector working group with the government

Post emergency phase

In the medium and long-term, support should secure, through advocacy and facilitation, the inclusion of refugees in programmes and services offered by development actors, the private sector, and governments. Participation in market systems (through wage- or self-employment, for example) depends not just on access to finance, training, access to education at all levels, coaching, job placement, work permits, and documentation, and a wide range of other support services, but also on the presence of an enabling environment whose rules and regulations protect rights and security. Where refugees have limited access to the right to work and related rights, UNHCR and partners will need to advocate for an environment that encourages the economic inclusion of refugees and enhances their access to livelihoods and decent work. It is important to recognize that positive outcomes in this area require multi-year, multi-partner strategic planning.

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