Training Humanitarian Leaders to Expand Refugee Resettlement
In September 2024, RefugePoint welcomed the second cohort of its Traineeship Program, a key field-building initiative designed to equip emerging humanitarian professionals with the expertise needed to help support refugee resettlement. Operating in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), this program aims to train new skilled caseworkers who can help refugees access pathways to safety, especially as the number of refugees worldwide continues to climb. Opportunities to enter the refugee resettlement field are rare, making this traineeship program highly competitive and in high demand.
This year’s diverse cohort included trainees from Burundi, Portugal, Mexico, and Zimbabwe, each bringing valuable perspectives—including several with lived displacement experience—to the program.
Why Resettlement Matters
For millions of displaced people worldwide, returning home is not an option, and many face unsafe conditions in their host countries. Resettlement provides a vital opportunity for safety and stability, allowing refugees to rebuild their lives in a new country. However, with over 100 million forcibly displaced people globally, there is a pressing need for more skilled professionals to process resettlement cases.
RefugePoint’s Traineeship Program is tackling this challenge by training the next generation of resettlement caseworkers. Through a unique blend of classroom learning and hands-on experience, trainees gain the skills necessary to support refugees on their journey to safety.
“Every case, every story, carried weight—behind each form or document was a life waiting for change. This traineeship deepened my commitment to ensuring refugees are seen, heard, and given opportunities for stability and safety.” – Valeria, Resettlement Trainee, Ecuador
A Hands-On Approach to Resettlement Training
The 2024 program featured an intensive three-week training in Kenya, including specialized sessions at the UNHCR Regional Bureau in Nairobi. Trainees gained technical knowledge from seasoned experts in Resettlement, Child Protection, and Complementary Pathways.
To bridge theory with practice, trainees shadowed experienced caseworkers, conducted resettlement interviews, and prepared real cases for submission to resettlement countries under the tutelage of more experienced mentors. This hands-on approach provided the trainees with guidance from seasoned professionals and the practical skills necessary to manage and complete casework.
Following their training, the trainees were deployed in pairs to support UNHCR operations in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ecuador, where they continued to process resettlement cases through the end of 2024.
“This traineeship was a transformative experience—offering practical exposure to resettlement casework, enhancing my skills in refugee support, and fostering collaborative relationships with dedicated teams.” – Chiomberegwa, Resettlement Trainee, Tanzania
Strengthening the Field with Diverse Talent
The trainees, who came from varied professional backgrounds in migration, refugee assistance, and legal support, enriched the program with their expertise. Notably, several participants had lived displacement experience, bringing a deep understanding of the challenges refugees and other displaced individuals face. RefugePoint prioritizes recruiting trainees with these perspectives, knowing that their insights strengthen resettlement efforts and outcomes for refugees.
Expanding Impact, One Trainee at a Time
The RefugePoint Traineeship Program is building a growing network of professionals dedicated to excellence in refugee resettlement. With each cohort, we are expanding global capacity to process resettlement cases and respond to the urgent needs of displaced communities.
By training skilled humanitarian professionals, we are one step closer to ensuring that every refugee seeking safety has a pathway forward.
Thank you to everyone who made this year’s traineeship a success! Together, we are shaping the future of refugee resettlement—one dedicated professional at a time.