The United States has a long, proud history of welcoming newcomers in times of crisis. We’re a nation born of immigrants and refugees, who have shaped and built our country. Today, we have an opportunity and obligation to welcome our Afghan allies with open arms, in the same way that we’ve welcomed so many others throughout generations.
Former presidents and first ladies, the Obamas, Bushes, and Clintons, have joined Welcome.US as honorary co-chairs of the Welcome Council to integrate and welcome Afghan refugees in the U.S.
Welcome.US is a national effort — built across sectors, political parties, and all walks of life — to empower Americans to welcome and support our new Afghan neighbors.
As a member of this new coalition, RefugePoint welcomes this cross-sector collaboration that Welcome.US has brought together. The website offers distinct opportunities to help Afghans arriving in the U.S. and elevates the needs resulting from the evacuations and mass exodus from Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal and Taliban takeover of the country.
“We’ve been working with Afghan refugees for many years, including unaccompanied children and others in life-threatening peril, to help them resettle to safe countries and reunite with family. This is a unique moment in American history to act, to save lives, and to build more inclusive communities in the US so that our allies and new neighbors can rebuild their lives,” said Sasha Chanoff, RefugePoint’s founder, who also serves on the National Welcome Council.
The United States has a long, proud history of welcoming newcomers in times of crisis. We’re a nation born of immigrants and refugees, who have shaped and built our country. Today, we have an opportunity and obligation to welcome our Afghan allies with open arms, in the same way that we’ve welcomed so many others throughout generations.
Former presidents and first ladies, the Obamas, Bushes, and Clintons, have joined Welcome.US as honorary co-chairs of the Welcome Council to integrate and welcome Afghan refugees in the U.S.
Welcome.US is a national effort — built across sectors, political parties, and all walks of life — to empower Americans to welcome and support our new Afghan neighbors.
As a member of this new coalition, RefugePoint welcomes this cross-sector collaboration that Welcome.US has brought together. The website offers distinct opportunities to help Afghans arriving in the U.S. and elevates the needs resulting from the evacuations and mass exodus from Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal and Taliban takeover of the country.
“We’ve been working with Afghan refugees for many years, including unaccompanied children and others in life-threatening peril, to help them resettle to safe countries and reunite with family. This is a unique moment in American history to act, to save lives, and to build more inclusive communities in the US so that our allies and new neighbors can rebuild their lives,” said Sasha Chanoff, RefugePoint’s founder, who also serves on the National Welcome Council.
Elizabeth is a young woman on a mission. At 18-years-old, she’s a single mother running a business selling and distributing wholesale candy to shops in Nairobi’s Githurai Estate. Elizabeth told us that she started this business because other jobs weren’t paying as well and she was confident that she could succeed in the candy business.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Elizabeth was selling and distributing candy with her sister-in-law, Francine. When the pandemic hit, business slowed dramatically, as the shops they were selling to closed. Elizabeth and Francine sold all of their candy and didn’t have the funds to restock. When Francine got sick and was unable to work, Elizabeth managed to keep the business afloat.
At this point, Elizabeth was referred to RefugePoint, and we provided her family with two months of food support to allow her to focus on her business. We also provided a $250 business grant so that she could restock her candy and fulfill client orders. The business picked up and is now doing well.
“We didn’t have food and finding money to pay rent had become a problem. Right now, we can feed ourselves, pay rent, and save some money for the future at the same time,” Elizabeth told us.
Elizabeth currently saves a minimum of $2 USD per day with her chamaa (a group-based funding system), and she’s saving to improve her business and provide a comfortable life for herself and her son. She has seen visible changes in her family and life since the business has stabilized. Now, she’s looking forward to a bright future where she can build her business and provide for her family.
Speaking a word of encouragement to fellow female refugees who are on the fence about starting a business, Elizabeth said, “Whatever work you choose to do, it’s your effort and hard work that will make the difference.”
Elizabeth is a young woman on a mission. At 18-years-old, she’s a single mother running a business selling and distributing wholesale candy to shops in Nairobi’s Githurai Estate. Elizabeth told us that she started this business because other jobs weren’t paying as well and she was confident that she could succeed in the candy business.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Elizabeth was selling and distributing candy with her sister-in-law, Francine. When the pandemic hit, business slowed dramatically, as the shops they were selling to closed. Elizabeth and Francine sold all of their candy and didn’t have the funds to restock. When Francine got sick and was unable to work, Elizabeth managed to keep the business afloat.
At this point, Elizabeth was referred to RefugePoint, and we provided her family with two months of food support to allow her to focus on her business. We also provided a $250 business grant so that she could restock her candy and fulfill client orders. The business picked up and is now doing well.
“We didn’t have food and finding money to pay rent had become a problem. Right now, we can feed ourselves, pay rent, and save some money for the future at the same time,” Elizabeth told us.
Elizabeth currently saves a minimum of $2 USD per day with her chamaa (a group-based funding system), and she’s saving to improve her business and provide a comfortable life for herself and her son. She has seen visible changes in her family and life since the business has stabilized. Now, she’s looking forward to a bright future where she can build her business and provide for her family.
Speaking a word of encouragement to fellow female refugees who are on the fence about starting a business, Elizabeth said, “Whatever work you choose to do, it’s your effort and hard work that will make the difference.”
Refugees seeking to reunite with their family members in other countries must navigate complex legal processes, including strict documentation requirements. Many governments require documents like birth certificates or passports, which refugees often don’t have and are unable to retrieve from the countries they fled.
For Speda, a refugee seeking to reunite with her husband in Europe, her lack of a passport made it impossible to register for or attend a language test she needed to complete the application. Although Speda and her husband had already been working with a lawyer to apply for family reunification, her missing passport had kept their case at a standstill for over a year. Speda reached out to UNHCR for assistance and connected with one of RefugePoint’s Complementary Pathways Experts.
After speaking with Speda, her husband, and their lawyer, our Expert navigated the complex web of governments, embassies, consulates, and international organizations in order to successfully advocate for Speda to use an alternative form of identification for the language exam.
Not long after the language exam, Speda ran into the same documentation-related obstacle while trying to take a tuberculosis test. Our Expert again negotiated with the various medical and government bodies so that Speda could use alternative identification.
Finally, as Speda was about to complete her final application, the online system wouldn’t let her submit the form without a passport. This required further conversation with the resettlement country’s government to make the online process accessible for people missing important documentation, and Speda finally submitted her application to be reunited with her husband.
Because our Expert worked alongside the couple to advocate for alternative documentation requirements, they have moved one step closer towards being reunited. Speda and her husband were fortunately able to contract the services of a lawyer in the destination country and had our Expert’s help in the sending country, but millions of refugees attempt family reunification without any legal representation or assistance to guide them through the complex process or advocate on their behalf. Cross-border collaborations like these, between refugees, lawyers, and staff like our Experts, set a precedent for building more accessible and equitable processes for refugees. Small changes can have lasting impacts on the global system.
Refugees seeking to reunite with their family members in other countries must navigate complex legal processes, including strict documentation requirements. Many governments require documents like birth certificates or passports, which refugees often don’t have and are unable to retrieve from the countries they fled.
For Speda, a refugee seeking to reunite with her husband in Europe, her lack of a passport made it impossible to register for or attend a language test she needed to complete the application. Although Speda and her husband had already been working with a lawyer to apply for family reunification, her missing passport had kept their case at a standstill for over a year. Speda reached out to UNHCR for assistance and connected with one of RefugePoint’s Complementary Pathways Experts.
After speaking with Speda, her husband, and their lawyer, our Expert navigated the complex web of governments, embassies, consulates, and international organizations in order to successfully advocate for Speda to use an alternative form of identification for the language exam.
Not long after the language exam, Speda ran into the same documentation-related obstacle while trying to take a tuberculosis test. Our Expert again negotiated with the various medical and government bodies so that Speda could use alternative identification.
Finally, as Speda was about to complete her final application, the online system wouldn’t let her submit the form without a passport. This required further conversation with the resettlement country’s government to make the online process accessible for people missing important documentation, and Speda finally submitted her application to be reunited with her husband.
Because our Expert worked alongside the couple to advocate for alternative documentation requirements, they have moved one step closer towards being reunited. Speda and her husband were fortunately able to contract the services of a lawyer in the destination country and had our Expert’s help in the sending country, but millions of refugees attempt family reunification without any legal representation or assistance to guide them through the complex process or advocate on their behalf. Cross-border collaborations like these, between refugees, lawyers, and staff like our Experts, set a precedent for building more accessible and equitable processes for refugees. Small changes can have lasting impacts on the global system.
RefugePoint has around 40 staff working in sensitive and precarious situations across Africa and the Middle East, some of which are currently supporting Afghan refugees to resettle to safe countries. One of those staff members recently began working on a case of two unaccompanied children who fled Afghanistan with their mother after the Taliban killed their father.* While attempting to cross the border to escape Afghanistan, they became separated in a great crowd of people fleeing. Amid the chaos, the children were ushered across the border by other refugees who assured them that they would rejoin their mother on the other side. Tragically, their mother did not make it across and the children have not seen or heard from her in over a year.
The young children were forced to navigate a new, foreign country on their own. They were eventually registered as refugees and identified for resettlement, which is where our Expert first came into contact with the kids. RefugePoint has a number of Child Protection Experts based in the country to which the siblings fled. Our staff member has been working to reunite the children with family in a safe country.
Fortunately, the children had a relative living in a safe country with whom they could live with. Our Child Protection Expert has started the formal reunification process for them and is working to move the case along as quickly as possible. This relative had also searched in vain for their mother. Our staff member has similarly had no luck in tracking her down, despite consistent effort through numerous methods.
The plight of unaccompanied refugee minors is an extremely grave concern, which is why we prioritize these individuals in all of our casework. Young girls in particular are at risk of forced marriage, child pregnancy, abduction, and other protection concerns. The RefugePoint staff member working on this case has many years of child protection experience, having worked across multiple continents to help unaccompanied children similar to these two. Our team is hopeful that these children will soon find a loving home in a safe country with their relative and may one day reunite with their mother.
Cases like these are becoming increasingly common as more Afghans flee the country. Our staff are located in a number of nearby countries working to help Afghan refugees access resettlement and other solutions. Given the dire situation in Afghanistan, RefugePoint expects to expand these efforts in the coming weeks and months.
*For the safety of our staff and clients, we have redacted details that could put them at risk.
*Image does not depict characters in this story.
RefugePoint has around 40 staff working in sensitive and precarious situations across Africa and the Middle East, some of which are currently supporting Afghan refugees to resettle to safe countries. One of those staff members recently began working on a case of two unaccompanied children who fled Afghanistan with their mother after the Taliban killed their father.* While attempting to cross the border to escape Afghanistan, they became separated in a great crowd of people fleeing. Amid the chaos, the children were ushered across the border by other refugees who assured them that they would rejoin their mother on the other side. Tragically, their mother did not make it across and the children have not seen or heard from her in over a year.
The young children were forced to navigate a new, foreign country on their own. They were eventually registered as refugees and identified for resettlement, which is where our Expert first came into contact with the kids. RefugePoint has a number of Child Protection Experts based in the country to which the siblings fled. Our staff member has been working to reunite the children with family in a safe country.
Fortunately, the children had a relative living in a safe country with whom they could live with. Our Child Protection Expert has started the formal reunification process for them and is working to move the case along as quickly as possible. This relative had also searched in vain for their mother. Our staff member has similarly had no luck in tracking her down, despite consistent effort through numerous methods.
The plight of unaccompanied refugee minors is an extremely grave concern, which is why we prioritize these individuals in all of our casework. Young girls in particular are at risk of forced marriage, child pregnancy, abduction, and other protection concerns. The RefugePoint staff member working on this case has many years of child protection experience, having worked across multiple continents to help unaccompanied children similar to these two. Our team is hopeful that these children will soon find a loving home in a safe country with their relative and may one day reunite with their mother.
Cases like these are becoming increasingly common as more Afghans flee the country. Our staff are located in a number of nearby countries working to help Afghan refugees access resettlement and other solutions. Given the dire situation in Afghanistan, RefugePoint expects to expand these efforts in the coming weeks and months.
*For the safety of our staff and clients, we have redacted details that could put them at risk.
I have always considered myself lucky to work in an office with “the best view in the world.” The RefugePoint office isn’t located in an exceptionally breathtaking part of Nairobi. We don’t look out of the window and see awe-inspiring vistas. Nor do we have mountainous backdrops or pristine beaches outside our office. In fact, our office is located in a typical office building for the area. Instead, we have a varied mix of people from different cultures, who are at vastly different positions in life walking through our doors on an almost daily basis. We work with vulnerable refugees and Kenyans at the RefugePoint office and support them to become self-reliant.
When refugees first come to RefugePoint, they are often at their lowest emotionally and are severely vulnerable. The overwhelming majority cannot afford to provide for themselves and their loved ones—the basic things you and I take for granted. Many are struggling to get a place to live, a plate of food, access to medical care, mental health support, and education for their children. The weight of these unmet basic needs has a physical and psychological effect, and you can see the impact as you engage with clients. It’s disheartening to observe the hesitancy, desolation, the physical toll of countless skipped meals (or, in worst-case scenarios, days without eating), and the indignity of having to ask for assistance. With this in mind, RefugePoint’s self-reliance program is centered on empathy and dignity.
At RefugePoint, we first identify the most vulnerable refugees and Kenyans. Once identified, we link each individual who joins the program with a case manager. The case manager assists the individual in navigating the support available, providing necessary internal and external referrals to ensure the clients receive timely assistance. RefugePoint supports these households with basic stabilizing services such as help to find safe housing, a monthly food basket, assistance to access essential medical care, and enrolling and keeping children in schools. Once stable, we work with the households to develop a plan to build their social capital through case mentoring, counseling, psychological therapy support, and encouraging social linkages through participation in networking groups. We also work with the family to build economic capital through livelihoods training, business start-up or expansion grants, business monitoring, and mentoring support. When households can independently meet their needs, they graduate out of the program.
We refer to this entire process as the self-reliance runway, and the majority of our clients go through this process over 24 months on average. Two years is a long time. It is enough time to get to know someone as an individual and learn their hopes, fears, dreams, and losses. It is incredible to see the transformation in individuals’ bearing and outlook throughout the self-reliance journey, from desolate people to confident and hopeful for their prospects. Initial hesitancy is replaced with determination and a sense of purpose as clients generate their own income and provide for themselves and their loved ones. Enthusiasm over prospects replaces the initial hopelessness, as in the case of the refugee who we supported to chase his dream of becoming a DJ.
Seeing someone undergo this transformation in human spirit, from vulnerability to self-reliance, is what I refer to as the ‘best view in the world.’ I am lucky to work at an office where I get to experience this view repeatedly.
By Jacob Bonyo, Country Director
I have always considered myself lucky to work in an office with “the best view in the world.” The RefugePoint office isn’t located in an exceptionally breathtaking part of Nairobi. We don’t look out of the window and see awe-inspiring vistas. Nor do we have mountainous backdrops or pristine beaches outside our office. In fact, our office is located in a typical office building for the area. Instead, we have a varied mix of people from different cultures, who are at vastly different positions in life walking through our doors on an almost daily basis. We work with vulnerable refugees and Kenyans at the RefugePoint office and support them to become self-reliant.
When refugees first come to RefugePoint, they are often at their lowest emotionally and are severely vulnerable. The overwhelming majority cannot afford to provide for themselves and their loved ones—the basic things you and I take for granted. Many are struggling to get a place to live, a plate of food, access to medical care, mental health support, and education for their children. The weight of these unmet basic needs has a physical and psychological effect, and you can see the impact as you engage with clients. It’s disheartening to observe the hesitancy, desolation, the physical toll of countless skipped meals (or, in worst-case scenarios, days without eating), and the indignity of having to ask for assistance. With this in mind, RefugePoint’s self-reliance program is centered on empathy and dignity.
At RefugePoint, we first identify the most vulnerable refugees and Kenyans. Once identified, we link each individual who joins the program with a case manager. The case manager assists the individual in navigating the support available, providing necessary internal and external referrals to ensure the clients receive timely assistance. RefugePoint supports these households with basic stabilizing services such as help to find safe housing, a monthly food basket, assistance to access essential medical care, and enrolling and keeping children in schools. Once stable, we work with the households to develop a plan to build their social capital through case mentoring, counseling, psychological therapy support, and encouraging social linkages through participation in networking groups. We also work with the family to build economic capital through livelihoods training, business start-up or expansion grants, business monitoring, and mentoring support. When households can independently meet their needs, they graduate out of the program.
We refer to this entire process as the self-reliance runway, and the majority of our clients go through this process over 24 months on average. Two years is a long time. It is enough time to get to know someone as an individual and learn their hopes, fears, dreams, and losses. It is incredible to see the transformation in individuals’ bearing and outlook throughout the self-reliance journey, from desolate people to confident and hopeful for their prospects. Initial hesitancy is replaced with determination and a sense of purpose as clients generate their own income and provide for themselves and their loved ones. Enthusiasm over prospects replaces the initial hopelessness, as in the case of the refugee who we supported to chase his dream of becoming a DJ.
Seeing someone undergo this transformation in human spirit, from vulnerability to self-reliance, is what I refer to as the ‘best view in the world.’ I am lucky to work at an office where I get to experience this view repeatedly.
RefugePoint has many staff working around the world, in situations that are sometimes dangerous and often confidential due to security concerns*, to help Afghan and other refugees resettle to the U.S. and other countries where they can rebuild their lives safely.
This is the story of one RefugePoint staff member’s experience supporting an Afghan refugee.
He is a father who worked with the U.S. Government in Afghanistan. He is married and has two young children. When the Taliban learned that this father worked for the U.S. military, they came after him. He managed to escape the country but wasn’t able to bring his wife and young kids with him.
As is the case for so many who flee their home, this father wound up in a dangerous place where he faced ongoing threats. RefugePoint’s Resettlement Expert met with him on multiple occasions, provided him with counseling and support, and helped him resettle to a country where he can rebuild his life safely.
Upon arrival in his new home, he filed family reunification documents for his wife and children. Their documents were finally processed and the application was accepted. The family was on the brink of relocating to join him when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban took control. Now his wife and children are stuck. It’s unclear at this point if or when they might be able to escape and reunite with the father.
Many Afghan families are separated just like this one. In addition to helping individuals in life-threatening situations like this father, RefugePoint has also built a family reunification program to reunite unaccompanied children with parents and get families back together. We’ve done this in collaboration with the International Refugee Assistance Project and the UN Refugee Agency. We have staff in a number of locations around the world working to help Afghan refugees resettle to countries where they can rebuild their lives, and we’ve focused particularly on unaccompanied children. In response to this emergency, we are currently expanding our efforts to help Afghan refugees relocate to safety.
RefugePoint has many staff working around the world, in situations that are sometimes dangerous and often confidential due to security concerns*, to help Afghan and other refugees resettle to the U.S. and other countries where they can rebuild their lives safely.
This is the story of one RefugePoint staff member’s experience supporting an Afghan refugee.
He is a father who worked with the U.S. Government in Afghanistan. He is married and has two young children. When the Taliban learned that this father worked for the U.S. military, they came after him. He managed to escape the country but wasn’t able to bring his wife and young kids with him.
As is the case for so many who flee their home, this father wound up in a dangerous place where he faced ongoing threats. RefugePoint’s Resettlement Expert met with him on multiple occasions, provided him with counseling and support, and helped him resettle to a country where he can rebuild his life safely.
Upon arrival in his new home, he filed family reunification documents for his wife and children. Their documents were finally processed and the application was accepted. The family was on the brink of relocating to join him when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban took control. Now his wife and children are stuck. It’s unclear at this point if or when they might be able to escape and reunite with the father.
Many Afghan families are separated just like this one. In addition to helping individuals in life-threatening situations like this father, RefugePoint has also built a family reunification program to reunite unaccompanied children with parents and get families back together. We’ve done this in collaboration with the International Refugee Assistance Project and the UN Refugee Agency. We have staff in a number of locations around the world working to help Afghan refugees resettle to countries where they can rebuild their lives, and we’ve focused particularly on unaccompanied children. In response to this emergency, we are currently expanding our efforts to help Afghan refugees relocate to safety.
One year ago, RefugePoint, Women’s Refugee Commission and partners from the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSRI) launched the Self-Reliance Index (SRI) – the first global tool that measures the progress of refugee households on their paths to self-reliance. The tool supports humanitarian practitioners in designing and providing effective programs and services for refugees and is helping build an evidence base of effective programs and approaches.
The SRI was developed to fill a critical gap in the international refugee support system. While refugee self-reliance has been recognized as a key objective of the Global Compact on Refugees and other high-level humanitarian agreements and frameworks, practitioners and policymakers didn’t have a way to track and measure it or know whether their support was helping refugees become and remain self-reliant.
To solve this issue, RefugePoint drew on years of experience helping refugees become self-reliant in Nairobi, Kenya. Building on a measurement tool RefugePoint had developed in that context, we joined forces with the Women’s Refugee Commission in 2016 and brought together a group of NGOs, UN agencies, funders, government representatives, and academics to create a new and improved tool for measuring the self-reliance status of refugee families. Over the next three years, the SRI was developed through a rigorous process with input from over 25 partner organizations and field-testing by partners in Ecuador, Jordan, Kenya, and Mexico.
Uses of the Self-Reliance Index
The SRI provides a holistic picture of a refugee family’s journey to becoming self-reliant and tracks changes over time. The SRI is made up of 12 domains that cover both the economic and social dimensions of a refugee household’s life, such as housing, education, health, financial resources, employment, social networks, and safety. Based on responses to questions on these domains, the tool tells us how a refugee family is doing in each of these areas, pointing out areas of strength as well as areas of need. This informs decisions about program design, helps monitor impact, and supports collaboration between partner agencies.
Since its launch in May 2020, the SRI has received strong interest from practitioners and policymakers working in displacement settings around the world. The tool has already been adopted by 21 agencies in 14 countries and has been used to assess the self-reliance status of over 5,000 households. More than half of these partners are conducting second or third SRI assessments with the same households, allowing them to track how the status of a household’s self-reliance is shifting over time in response to services and circumstances.
While primarily developed for use with urban refugee populations in countries of first asylum, agencies are increasingly using the SRI to measure the self-reliance of a wider range of displaced populations including refugees in camp settings, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, as well as host populations. Eight agencies are employing the SRI in an urban displacement context; six agencies are using the SRI in a rural or camp-based context; and seven agencies are applying the tool simultaneously in both urban and rural or camp-based locations. This demonstrates the wide applicability of the SRI in a diversity of contexts where displaced persons reside.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has been a key thought partner in the development of the SRI, and in the past year it has introduced the tool to its regional bureaus through a series of dedicated webinars. In partnership with the Poverty Alleviation Coalition, which comprises UNHCR, The World Bank Partnership for Economic Inclusion (PEI) and 13 NGOs, the RSRI has developed an adapted version of the SRI designed to support agencies implementing the Graduation Approach programming.
The SRI has also been recommended for use by several funders. Lives in Dignity, a newly-launched €24 million UNOPS-EU grants facility has strongly recommended use of the tool to its potential grantees. The US State Department’s humanitarian bureau (PRM) has also highlighted the SRI in several funding opportunities.
Self-Reliance Index Training & Support
RefugePoint is leading the provision of training on the SRI and has trained over 400 staff from 27 international, national, and community-based NGOs, UN agencies, and refugee-led organizations in the past year.
Beyond training, RefugePoint’s support continues as partners deploy the tool in their programs and analyze data. One of the core objectives of the SRI roll-out is supporting partners to understand ways in which they can use the data generated from the tool. This allows our partners to adjust their programming so they can improve self-reliance outcomes for their clients. RefugePoint, along with the Women’s Refugee Commission and two academic advisors, works closely with partners to review and analyze data collected through the tool and facilitate reflection on what is and is not working to improve self-reliance of displaced communities.
Emerging Trends & Initial Outcomes
Through dozens of discussions with agencies that are deploying the SRI, we are starting to see important emerging trends from the first year of the SRI roll-out.
One notable trend is that many agencies that have used the SRI in one country program are choosing to expand it to multiple locations and/or to multiple country programs. This is an important appraisal of the SRI’s ease of use, which was a core objective during the development of the tool. Unlike many other technical tools, the SRI does not require specialized Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) technical expertise to implement, and is accessible from a cost and time-investment perspective for both small and large agencies.
Another emerging trend is how the SRI is shifting perspectives for agencies that are deploying the tool. The majority of partners applying the SRI engage in primarily one or two sectors (e.g. Shelter, Livelihoods, or Protection). Unlike single-sector M&E tools, the SRI is multi-dimensional and generates data relating to social and economic dimensions of a refugee household’s life. Partners regularly report that by applying the SRI, they are getting a richer and more comprehensive understanding of their clients than before. This perspective shift presents an opportunity for agencies to think about programming differently and align that programming more directly with the diverse needs and capacities of displaced households. It can also help partners facilitate referrals to other agencies (when they come across a need they cannot meet) or identify areas where there are gaps in the broader humanitarian response, which can feed into future recommendations for program development.
Finally, some partners are reporting that use of the SRI is helping reorient the mindset of both staff and refugee clients from focusing solely on needs and vulnerabilities to emphasizing strengths and skills within refugee families.
Next Steps
In the next phase of the SRI roll-out, RefugePoint will expand training and support to existing and new agencies to deploy the tool in their programs. In addition, along with the Women’s Refugee Commission, we are supporting partners to analyze the data that is generated through the SRI and use those insights to make program adjustments and improvements. Eventually, data collected by agencies using the SRI is expected to evidence global trends and disparities related to self-reliance opportunities and outcomes, which can inform broad policy-making and resource allocation for displaced populations.
By Simar Singh and Ned Meerdink
What is the Self-Reliance Index
One year ago, RefugePoint, Women’s Refugee Commission and partners from the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSRI) launched the Self-Reliance Index (SRI) – the first global tool that measures the progress of refugee households on their paths to self-reliance. The tool supports humanitarian practitioners in designing and providing effective programs and services for refugees and is helping build an evidence base of effective programs and approaches.
The SRI was developed to fill a critical gap in the international refugee support system. While refugee self-reliance has been recognized as a key objective of the Global Compact on Refugees and other high-level humanitarian agreements and frameworks, practitioners and policymakers didn’t have a way to track and measure it or know whether their support was helping refugees become and remain self-reliant.
To solve this issue, RefugePoint drew on years of experience helping refugees become self-reliant in Nairobi, Kenya. Building on a measurement tool RefugePoint had developed in that context, we joined forces with the Women’s Refugee Commission in 2016 and brought together a group of NGOs, UN agencies, funders, government representatives, and academics to create a new and improved tool for measuring the self-reliance status of refugee families. Over the next three years, the SRI was developed through a rigorous process with input from over 25 partner organizations and field-testing by partners in Ecuador, Jordan, Kenya, and Mexico.
Uses of the Self-Reliance Index
The SRI provides a holistic picture of a refugee family’s journey to becoming self-reliant and tracks changes over time. The SRI is made up of 12 domains that cover both the economic and social dimensions of a refugee household’s life, such as housing, education, health, financial resources, employment, social networks, and safety. Based on responses to questions on these domains, the tool tells us how a refugee family is doing in each of these areas, pointing out areas of strength as well as areas of need. This informs decisions about program design, helps monitor impact, and supports collaboration between partner agencies.
Since its launch in May 2020, the SRI has received strong interest from practitioners and policymakers working in displacement settings around the world. The tool has already been adopted by 21 agencies in 14 countries and has been used to assess the self-reliance status of over 5,000 households. More than half of these partners are conducting second or third SRI assessments with the same households, allowing them to track how the status of a household’s self-reliance is shifting over time in response to services and circumstances.
While primarily developed for use with urban refugee populations in countries of first asylum, agencies are increasingly using the SRI to measure the self-reliance of a wider range of displaced populations including refugees in camp settings, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, as well as host populations. Eight agencies are employing the SRI in an urban displacement context; six agencies are using the SRI in a rural or camp-based context; and seven agencies are applying the tool simultaneously in both urban and rural or camp-based locations. This demonstrates the wide applicability of the SRI in a diversity of contexts where displaced persons reside.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has been a key thought partner in the development of the SRI, and in the past year it has introduced the tool to its regional bureaus through a series of dedicated webinars. In partnership with the Poverty Alleviation Coalition, which comprises UNHCR, The World Bank Partnership for Economic Inclusion (PEI) and 13 NGOs, the RSRI has developed an adapted version of the SRI designed to support agencies implementing the Graduation Approach programming.
The SRI has also been recommended for use by several funders. Lives in Dignity, a newly-launched €24 million UNOPS-EU grants facility has strongly recommended use of the tool to its potential grantees. The US State Department’s humanitarian bureau (PRM) has also highlighted the SRI in several funding opportunities.
Self-Reliance Index Training & Support
RefugePoint is leading the provision of training on the SRI and has trained over 400 staff from 27 international, national, and community-based NGOs, UN agencies, and refugee-led organizations in the past year.
Beyond training, RefugePoint’s support continues as partners deploy the tool in their programs and analyze data. One of the core objectives of the SRI roll-out is supporting partners to understand ways in which they can use the data generated from the tool. This allows our partners to adjust their programming so they can improve self-reliance outcomes for their clients. RefugePoint, along with the Women’s Refugee Commission and two academic advisors, works closely with partners to review and analyze data collected through the tool and facilitate reflection on what is and is not working to improve self-reliance of displaced communities.
Emerging Trends & Initial Outcomes
Through dozens of discussions with agencies that are deploying the SRI, we are starting to see important emerging trends from the first year of the SRI roll-out.
One notable trend is that many agencies that have used the SRI in one country program are choosing to expand it to multiple locations and/or to multiple country programs. This is an important appraisal of the SRI’s ease of use, which was a core objective during the development of the tool. Unlike many other technical tools, the SRI does not require specialized Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) technical expertise to implement, and is accessible from a cost and time-investment perspective for both small and large agencies.
Another emerging trend is how the SRI is shifting perspectives for agencies that are deploying the tool. The majority of partners applying the SRI engage in primarily one or two sectors (e.g. Shelter, Livelihoods, or Protection). Unlike single-sector M&E tools, the SRI is multi-dimensional and generates data relating to social and economic dimensions of a refugee household’s life. Partners regularly report that by applying the SRI, they are getting a richer and more comprehensive understanding of their clients than before. This perspective shift presents an opportunity for agencies to think about programming differently and align that programming more directly with the diverse needs and capacities of displaced households. It can also help partners facilitate referrals to other agencies (when they come across a need they cannot meet) or identify areas where there are gaps in the broader humanitarian response, which can feed into future recommendations for program development.
Finally, some partners are reporting that use of the SRI is helping reorient the mindset of both staff and refugee clients from focusing solely on needs and vulnerabilities to emphasizing strengths and skills within refugee families.
Next Steps
In the next phase of the SRI roll-out, RefugePoint will expand training and support to existing and new agencies to deploy the tool in their programs. In addition, along with the Women’s Refugee Commission, we are supporting partners to analyze the data that is generated through the SRI and use those insights to make program adjustments and improvements. Eventually, data collected by agencies using the SRI is expected to evidence global trends and disparities related to self-reliance opportunities and outcomes, which can inform broad policy-making and resource allocation for displaced populations.
When the Kenyan government announced another round of lockdowns throughout several counties in early 2021, Christine was stuck far from home. RefugePoint had just given her a $300 business grant to fulfill a contract she’d gotten with a hotel chain in Lodwar, Turkana County to supply them with curtains. As a refugee from South Sudan, she was familiar with the area. Finding somewhere to stay and people to work with wasn’t a problem for her. However, sheltering in place in Lodwar meant that she would be away from her small family for an indefinite period of time.
“I miss my children. We talk all the time, though. They are understanding and they support me to keep working here,” she told us.
Christine’s first business venture was a salon that she started with support from another INGO. She ran the salon for nine months after the organization provided her with training and salon equipment. Unfortunately, her salon was broken into and the equipment was stolen in 2017. Christine struggled for a while as she set up a new business sourcing mats and making curtains.
Christine was referred to RefugePoint in late 2020, and we provided her family with food and rent support. Christine enrolled in RefugePoint’s Business Development Skills training so that she would have the best possible chance at running the new business successfully. At this point, RefugePoint provided a grant for Christine to further develop her business. By then, she had already secured the contract with the hotel chain, and the funds went towards getting the materials and labor she needed to fulfill it.
The pandemic had already affected her ability to deliver curtains on time, as the early hours of curfew in Kenya meant that she couldn’t work with her tailor late into the evening as she routinely would when she had a big order.
After finishing the contract, Christine was still stuck in Lodwar. She made the best of the situation and began working with a friend to buy dried fish from communities living alongside Lake Turkana, then selling the fish in neighboring Kitale and up to Nairobi. Christine also began canvassing for potential clients for her curtains and mats in Lodwar.
“What I really want is to fix up somewhere permanent in Nairobi. A shop I can call ‘Christine Curtains and Mats Shop,’” she told us.
Christine is working hard so that her children can have access to education and better opportunities. “I see a great future for my children,” Christine said. “Now I’m working for my children. I’ll focus mainly on my two goals of paying for their school fees and setting up my own shop.”
When the Kenyan government announced another round of lockdowns throughout several counties in early 2021, Christine was stuck far from home. RefugePoint had just given her a $300 business grant to fulfill a contract she’d gotten with a hotel chain in Lodwar, Turkana County to supply them with curtains. As a refugee from South Sudan, she was familiar with the area. Finding somewhere to stay and people to work with wasn’t a problem for her. However, sheltering in place in Lodwar meant that she would be away from her small family for an indefinite period of time.
“I miss my children. We talk all the time, though. They are understanding and they support me to keep working here,” she told us.
Christine’s first business venture was a salon that she started with support from another INGO. She ran the salon for nine months after the organization provided her with training and salon equipment. Unfortunately, her salon was broken into and the equipment was stolen in 2017. Christine struggled for a while as she set up a new business sourcing mats and making curtains.
Christine was referred to RefugePoint in late 2020, and we provided her family with food and rent support. Christine enrolled in RefugePoint’s Business Development Skills training so that she would have the best possible chance at running the new business successfully. At this point, RefugePoint provided a grant for Christine to further develop her business. By then, she had already secured the contract with the hotel chain, and the funds went towards getting the materials and labor she needed to fulfill it.
The pandemic had already affected her ability to deliver curtains on time, as the early hours of curfew in Kenya meant that she couldn’t work with her tailor late into the evening as she routinely would when she had a big order.
After finishing the contract, Christine was still stuck in Lodwar. She made the best of the situation and began working with a friend to buy dried fish from communities living alongside Lake Turkana, then selling the fish in neighboring Kitale and up to Nairobi. Christine also began canvassing for potential clients for her curtains and mats in Lodwar.
“What I really want is to fix up somewhere permanent in Nairobi. A shop I can call ‘Christine Curtains and Mats Shop,’” she told us.
Christine is working hard so that her children can have access to education and better opportunities. “I see a great future for my children,” Christine said. “Now I’m working for my children. I’ll focus mainly on my two goals of paying for their school fees and setting up my own shop.”
Patrick’s story is a shining example of the power of determination. He started as a night guard for businesses in the Kakuma refugee camp before relocating to Nairobi in late 2018, where he started from scratch again. He moved with his brother to the neighborhood of Kitengela, where Patrick didn’t have many friends. He learned of a business opportunity to hire and operate a motorcycle taxi and give the owner of the motorcycle a cut of the daily takings. Motorcycles, commonly known in Nairobi as boda boda, serve a crucial part in last-mile connectivity for passengers and goods. Patrick jumped at the opportunity, as it gave him a chance to make some money and support himself. Patrick took driving lessons and soon began transporting passengers and goods on the motorcycle. After a short time, Patrick realized that he was working at a loss by giving the motorcycle owner a large chunk of his daily income, while fuel and maintenance costs were eating into his profits. Patrick decided to stop driving the motorcycle and instead took up walking across Nairobi as he sold mobile phone accessories on the street.
Patrick’s brother fell sick at this time, so they moved across Nairobi to save money and create a shorter commute to the hospital. Patrick struggled to provide for himself, his brother, his brother’s wife, and their children, so he started working as a casual worker on construction sites to supplement the income from selling phone accessories. Despite his best efforts, the income wasn’t enough to cover their basic living expenses and pay for the children’s school fees. At this time, Patrick sought assistance from a friend who referred him to RefugePoint.
RefugePoint began supporting Patrick’s family in late 2019 with rent and food assistance. We quickly helped his brother’s children re-enroll in school by providing them with uniforms and other school materials. As a result, Patrick was able to save money and pay the school fees for the children. RefugePoint also helped the family enroll in the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to cover his brother’s medical costs.
In 2020, Patrick participated in RefugePoint’s Business Development Skills training to learn how to start and run his own business and develop self-reliance. When asked what business he’d want to start, Patrick beamed as he proudly stated that he wanted to own a boda boda. Unfortunately, our small business grants are typically not enough to cover the total cost of purchasing a motorcycle, so we worked with Patrick to develop a savings plan. RefugePoint committed to supporting him with a $300 business start-up grant towards the purchase if he raised the balance. Patrick worked diligently to save $330. With support from RefugePoint and a loan from a friend, Patrick purchased a used boda boda for $930.
Within seven months, Patrick saved enough money to pay the loan off and take full ownership of the motorcycle. Since then, Patrick has been saving up and purchasing necessary household items like seats and a gas canister so that the family can cook using cleaner fuel. As his income has grown, Patrick has moved the family into a one-bedroom apartment––a significant upgrade from the single room they lived in.
Speaking about his challenges, Patrick shared the low levels of business due to COVID-19 lockdowns. His daily earnings fell from around $10 to $6. However, he still manages to save as much as he can each day. Patrick didn’t have a base of operations when he got his boda boda, making it difficult for him to get regular clients. However, he’s recently secured a spot at a ‘base,’ which he hopes will translate to better earning potential. Working from the ‘base’ is better for him, as the riders have representation with the local administration and bail each other out in case of trouble.
Looking forward, Patrick sees a brighter future for himself and his family. His brother’s wife is also getting assistance from RefugePoint towards running her own business, and Patrick hopes they will be entirely self-reliant in due course. After that, he wants to strike out on his own to start a family. When we asked him what message he could give to other refugees to give them some hope despite their circumstances, he said, “Work hard, do your best, and have a goal. Keep saving as much as you can. If you work diligently and patiently, your work will grow. Plan well to know what you can use and what you can save.”
Patrick’s story is a shining example of the power of determination. He started as a night guard for businesses in the Kakuma refugee camp before relocating to Nairobi in late 2018, where he started from scratch again. He moved with his brother to the neighborhood of Kitengela, where Patrick didn’t have many friends. He learned of a business opportunity to hire and operate a motorcycle taxi and give the owner of the motorcycle a cut of the daily takings. Motorcycles, commonly known in Nairobi as boda boda, serve a crucial part in last-mile connectivity for passengers and goods. Patrick jumped at the opportunity, as it gave him a chance to make some money and support himself. Patrick took driving lessons and soon began transporting passengers and goods on the motorcycle. After a short time, Patrick realized that he was working at a loss by giving the motorcycle owner a large chunk of his daily income, while fuel and maintenance costs were eating into his profits. Patrick decided to stop driving the motorcycle and instead took up walking across Nairobi as he sold mobile phone accessories on the street.
Patrick’s brother fell sick at this time, so they moved across Nairobi to save money and create a shorter commute to the hospital. Patrick struggled to provide for himself, his brother, his brother’s wife, and their children, so he started working as a casual worker on construction sites to supplement the income from selling phone accessories. Despite his best efforts, the income wasn’t enough to cover their basic living expenses and pay for the children’s school fees. At this time, Patrick sought assistance from a friend who referred him to RefugePoint.
RefugePoint began supporting Patrick’s family in late 2019 with rent and food assistance. We quickly helped his brother’s children re-enroll in school by providing them with uniforms and other school materials. As a result, Patrick was able to save money and pay the school fees for the children. RefugePoint also helped the family enroll in the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to cover his brother’s medical costs.
In 2020, Patrick participated in RefugePoint’s Business Development Skills training to learn how to start and run his own business and develop self-reliance. When asked what business he’d want to start, Patrick beamed as he proudly stated that he wanted to own a boda boda. Unfortunately, our small business grants are typically not enough to cover the total cost of purchasing a motorcycle, so we worked with Patrick to develop a savings plan. RefugePoint committed to supporting him with a $300 business start-up grant towards the purchase if he raised the balance. Patrick worked diligently to save $330. With support from RefugePoint and a loan from a friend, Patrick purchased a used boda boda for $930.
Within seven months, Patrick saved enough money to pay the loan off and take full ownership of the motorcycle. Since then, Patrick has been saving up and purchasing necessary household items like seats and a gas canister so that the family can cook using cleaner fuel. As his income has grown, Patrick has moved the family into a one-bedroom apartment––a significant upgrade from the single room they lived in.
Speaking about his challenges, Patrick shared the low levels of business due to COVID-19 lockdowns. His daily earnings fell from around $10 to $6. However, he still manages to save as much as he can each day. Patrick didn’t have a base of operations when he got his boda boda, making it difficult for him to get regular clients. However, he’s recently secured a spot at a ‘base,’ which he hopes will translate to better earning potential. Working from the ‘base’ is better for him, as the riders have representation with the local administration and bail each other out in case of trouble.
Looking forward, Patrick sees a brighter future for himself and his family. His brother’s wife is also getting assistance from RefugePoint towards running her own business, and Patrick hopes they will be entirely self-reliant in due course. After that, he wants to strike out on his own to start a family. When we asked him what message he could give to other refugees to give them some hope despite their circumstances, he said, “Work hard, do your best, and have a goal. Keep saving as much as you can. If you work diligently and patiently, your work will grow. Plan well to know what you can use and what you can save.”
RefugePoint Founder, Sasha Chanoff, recently presented at Expanding Global Refugee Labour Mobility: Implementing the Three-Year Strategy, hosted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and UNHCR.
The title of Sasha’s talk was Refugee-Centered Labor Mobility
Sasha spoke about the importance of ensuring that this pathway to a new life is rooted first and foremost in the experiences and needs of refugees themselves. He also highlighted the concept of additionality — ensuring that any labor mobility slots are additional to, and do not erode or compromise, needs-based resettlement.
Below are Sasha’s edited remarks from this memorable discussion:
It has taken a village to get to this point when the first labor mobility candidates who were refugees living in Kenya have now arrived in Canada. I’m so pleased that Micheline, one of the first arrivals, will speak to us shortly. It was such a thrill to be on a Zoom call with her last week when she arrived at the airport in Halifax.
About RefugePoint
I want to share something about RefugePoint to start. We began 15 years ago to advance lasting solutions for at-risk refugees and to support the humanitarian community to do the same. We focus on resettlement and complementary pathways as one pillar of our work, and on self-reliance opportunities for refugees living in host countries as the second pillar.
We see ourselves as an innovator in the refugee response space. We use private funding to create new and dynamic programs, and once we see that they work, we aim to train and support other organizations to expand these opportunities.
Canadian government and RefugePoint
RefugePoint has a longstanding relationship with the Canadian government, helping refugees to resettle to Canada. We’re thrilled to build on and deepen that relationship with this labor mobility project.
Labor mobility and self-reliance: Conversations rooted in dignity
Labor mobility brings together our focus on self-reliance with our expertise in needs-based resettlement and protection. We’ve been working for many years to identify refugees for resettlement based on their vulnerabilities.
With labor mobility, we’ve had an important and refreshing insight. That is that when we start conversations with people based on their skills and experiences, we see them light up. After one of our interviews in Kenya, the person told us that this was the best day he’d had since he fled his home so many years earlier. It was the first time someone asked him about his strengths and skills.
These are conversations that are rooted in dignity, in recognizing the whole person, their strengths, and their experiences. It shifts the narrative from victimhood to human beings with agency and ability. And along with that shift, there is a sense of hope and enthusiasm that emerges.
RefugePoint decided to engage in labor mobility because we wanted to look at the connection between protection and durable solutions. We do more than linking a refugee with a job. We feel that this effort has to be underpinned by recognizing their diverse experiences and situations.
There are a number of points I want to share in this regard:
1: The importance of flexibility around requiring documentation: Many refugees forced to flee home don’t have time to grab a passport, or diploma, or job credentials. They shouldn’t be stopped or penalized for not having documentation.
2: Recognizing different kinds of family composition: Labor mobility currently has strict criteria about family composition. This limits the applicant pool. There are many families, for example, who have taken in an unaccompanied or separated child. When we are screening and assessing candidates, we take into account what’s best for the entire family unit. Resettlement has built-in accommodations to allow for different kinds of family composition. Labor mobility should include the same sorts of considerations. Otherwise, employers are missing out on great candidates.
3: Funds to support the process of integration: Refugees don’t have funds saved up. This is a challenge and a barrier. They need to be able to eat and pay for necessities in Canada before that first paycheck comes in.
4: Support services to help with integration upon arrival: This is critical for long-term success. And it pays off, because refugees, studies show, stay longer in jobs, and employers are regularly impressed with them. (A Tent Foundation study of employer experiences with refugees is particularly relevant.)
Leveling the playing field for refugees
If we’re serious about leveling the playing field to make labor mobility accessible for more refugees, and about getting more good candidates in front of employers, then we need to take the points I’ve made here into account.
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship made an announcement saying there would be some policy changes to address some of these concerns. We want to thank IRCC and the Minister for considering such changes and look forward to hearing more.
Labor mobility must be additional to resettlement
The last point I want to make about labor mobility is that it should be additional to resettlement. There is tremendous excitement for labor mobility, and for good reason, but we can’t let this compromise in any way the importance of resettlement for people who are in peril. We’re very pleased that the EMPP, in particular, is clearly in addition to Canada’s needs-based resettlement program, and we hope that future complementary pathways programs in Canada adhere to the same principle.
Imagining a future where communities compete to bring in refugees
A number of years ago, The UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner at the time, Alexander Aleinikoff, said something that captured my imagination: “Can we envision a world where cities compete to bring refugees in because they are so needed?”
Labor mobility is a pathway that can help to make that imagined future a reality. We can already see that future. It’s starting to happen. It’s one where refugees are included. And needed. Where their strengths and skills enable them to support themselves and contribute to their communities. It’s a win-win situation.
But as we move forward, let’s keep in mind that it must be done in a refugee-centered way. With their needs and interests and diverse experiences at heart, as primary considerations.
Thank you to the government of Canada and IRCC, UNHCR, Ed Shapiro and the Shapiro Family Foundation, Barrie Landry, Talent Beyond Boundaries, The Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network, Glen Haven, and everyone who has had a hand in getting us to this moment.
It’s taken a great deal of imagination and hard work to get here. RefugePoint is honored and excited to celebrate this moment with you and to collectively imagine a better future that together we can make a reality.
RefugePoint Founder, Sasha Chanoff, recently presented at Expanding Global Refugee Labour Mobility: Implementing the Three-Year Strategy, hosted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and UNHCR.
The title of Sasha’s talk was Refugee-Centered Labor Mobility
Sasha spoke about the importance of ensuring that this pathway to a new life is rooted first and foremost in the experiences and needs of refugees themselves. He also highlighted the concept of additionality — ensuring that any labor mobility slots are additional to, and do not erode or compromise, needs-based resettlement.
Below are Sasha’s edited remarks from this memorable discussion:
It has taken a village to get to this point when the first labor mobility candidates who were refugees living in Kenya have now arrived in Canada. I’m so pleased that Micheline, one of the first arrivals, will speak to us shortly. It was such a thrill to be on a Zoom call with her last week when she arrived at the airport in Halifax.
About RefugePoint
I want to share something about RefugePoint to start. We began 15 years ago to advance lasting solutions for at-risk refugees and to support the humanitarian community to do the same. We focus on resettlement and complementary pathways as one pillar of our work, and on self-reliance opportunities for refugees living in host countries as the second pillar.
We see ourselves as an innovator in the refugee response space. We use private funding to create new and dynamic programs, and once we see that they work, we aim to train and support other organizations to expand these opportunities.
Canadian government and RefugePoint
RefugePoint has a longstanding relationship with the Canadian government, helping refugees to resettle to Canada. We’re thrilled to build on and deepen that relationship with this labor mobility project.
Labor mobility and self-reliance: Conversations rooted in dignity
Labor mobility brings together our focus on self-reliance with our expertise in needs-based resettlement and protection. We’ve been working for many years to identify refugees for resettlement based on their vulnerabilities.
With labor mobility, we’ve had an important and refreshing insight. That is that when we start conversations with people based on their skills and experiences, we see them light up. After one of our interviews in Kenya, the person told us that this was the best day he’d had since he fled his home so many years earlier. It was the first time someone asked him about his strengths and skills.
These are conversations that are rooted in dignity, in recognizing the whole person, their strengths, and their experiences. It shifts the narrative from victimhood to human beings with agency and ability. And along with that shift, there is a sense of hope and enthusiasm that emerges.
RefugePoint decided to engage in labor mobility because we wanted to look at the connection between protection and durable solutions. We do more than linking a refugee with a job. We feel that this effort has to be underpinned by recognizing their diverse experiences and situations.
There are a number of points I want to share in this regard:
1: The importance of flexibility around requiring documentation: Many refugees forced to flee home don’t have time to grab a passport, or diploma, or job credentials. They shouldn’t be stopped or penalized for not having documentation.
2: Recognizing different kinds of family composition: Labor mobility currently has strict criteria about family composition. This limits the applicant pool. There are many families, for example, who have taken in an unaccompanied or separated child. When we are screening and assessing candidates, we take into account what’s best for the entire family unit. Resettlement has built-in accommodations to allow for different kinds of family composition. Labor mobility should include the same sorts of considerations. Otherwise, employers are missing out on great candidates.
3: Funds to support the process of integration: Refugees don’t have funds saved up. This is a challenge and a barrier. They need to be able to eat and pay for necessities in Canada before that first paycheck comes in.
4: Support services to help with integration upon arrival: This is critical for long-term success. And it pays off, because refugees, studies show, stay longer in jobs, and employers are regularly impressed with them. (A Tent Foundation study of employer experiences with refugees is particularly relevant.)
Leveling the playing field for refugees
If we’re serious about leveling the playing field to make labor mobility accessible for more refugees, and about getting more good candidates in front of employers, then we need to take the points I’ve made here into account.
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship made an announcement saying there would be some policy changes to address some of these concerns. We want to thank IRCC and the Minister for considering such changes and look forward to hearing more.
Labor mobility must be additional to resettlement
The last point I want to make about labor mobility is that it should be additional to resettlement. There is tremendous excitement for labor mobility, and for good reason, but we can’t let this compromise in any way the importance of resettlement for people who are in peril. We’re very pleased that the EMPP, in particular, is clearly in addition to Canada’s needs-based resettlement program, and we hope that future complementary pathways programs in Canada adhere to the same principle.
Imagining a future where communities compete to bring in refugees
A number of years ago, The UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner at the time, Alexander Aleinikoff, said something that captured my imagination: “Can we envision a world where cities compete to bring refugees in because they are so needed?”
Labor mobility is a pathway that can help to make that imagined future a reality. We can already see that future. It’s starting to happen. It’s one where refugees are included. And needed. Where their strengths and skills enable them to support themselves and contribute to their communities. It’s a win-win situation.
But as we move forward, let’s keep in mind that it must be done in a refugee-centered way. With their needs and interests and diverse experiences at heart, as primary considerations.
Thank you to the government of Canada and IRCC, UNHCR, Ed Shapiro and the Shapiro Family Foundation, Barrie Landry, Talent Beyond Boundaries, The Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network, Glen Haven, and everyone who has had a hand in getting us to this moment.
It’s taken a great deal of imagination and hard work to get here. RefugePoint is honored and excited to celebrate this moment with you and to collectively imagine a better future that together we can make a reality.
