Rebuilding lives: refugee economic opportunities in a new land

This document discusses key issues facing refugees during and after the process of displacement. With a heavy focus on recommendations from experience, it reviews economic opportunities and employment readiness of refugees during displacement.

It is argued that more focus during displacement needs to be on preparing the displaced for a durable solution and upgrading their skills and employment experiences. This would enhance their successful transition and the rebuilding of their lives following displacement. Adequate and predictable provision of food is vital to ensure refugees can benefit and participate in these preparatory programmes. Possible activities to do this might include:

• employment readiness- train refugee adults in literacy in native languages and/or other dominant languages in the regions, such as English and French, as well as in entrepreneurship and financial skills in refugee and IDP settings
• economic opportunities- establish job placement programmes that tap existing skills within the displaced community and match those to labour needs within the camp or urban area
• challenge programming that focuses only a specific sector (food, health, education, etc.) or activity and instead focus on human development more broadly.