The first consultative workshop for the MAKATET (ማካተት) Roadmap was held from November 14 to 15, 2024, organized by the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) in collaboration with UNHCR and GIZ. The event brought together a diverse group of refugee representatives from various camps and sites. The Makatet Roadmap is an essential initiative aimed at implementing the Ethiopian government’s policy commitments made in 2016, 2019, and 2023. Its primary goal is to promote sustainable progress in enhancing the socio-economic inclusion of refugees in the country. However, the successful realization of this roadmap relies heavily on financial and technical support from the international community, including donors and other key stakeholders involved in refugee operations. read more here: https://x.com/UNHCREthiopia/status/1859509422659092799

Ethiopia's Bold Move Grants Refugees the Right to Work - The New Directive represents the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration to operationalize the government’s policy as articulated in its new Refugees Proclamation. It provides the operational details for refugees to access formal employment, establish their own businesses, benefit from development projects, and contribute to the local economy. It unlocks the last frontier in achieving comprehensive economic inclusion for refugees in Ethiopia. Read more here: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2024/11/07/ethiopia-grants-refugees-the-right-to-work

The Re:BUiLD Research & Policy Symposium, From Evidence to Policy: Transforming Refugee Livelihoods Strategies in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, was held October 15-16 in Nairobi to share valuable insights into the critical areas of access to finance, social protection, jobs and skills development, justice, and legal identity. The symposium set a strong foundation for shaping policies that positively impact refugee communities. Watch the recordings: https://rebuild.rescue.org/research-symposium#from-evidence-to-policy

Over 50,000 refugees and thousands of Iranians in 11 settlements and four refugee-populated neighborhoods in Iran are benefiting from the installation of 3,601 solar-powered streetlights. Implemented by UNHCR in partnership with the National Organization for Migration, the project has significantly enhanced nighttime safety, particularly for women and children. The initiative also boosts community life and local businesses by extending activity hours after sunset. "Our children can now play at night," shared Zahra Khavari, an Afghan refugee. The lights reduce 152.5 tons of CO₂ annually and are part of UNHCR’s Strategic Plan for Climate Action. Refugees participated in the installation, fostering ownership and local engagement. The project underscores Iran and UNHCR’s long-standing commitment to sustainable refugee support and environmental responsibility.

Getting Financial Service Providers “Refugee-Ready”: Four Lessons From Uganda - Five years ago, Sida, UNHCR and Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation launched a first-of-its-kind blended finance program in Uganda, building on market research results from a year earlier. The program's distinctive approach combined donor contributions and investor capital in refugee settings. Read on the four lessons learned from the successful program in the blog post here: https://www.findevgateway.org/blog/2024/10/getting-financial-service-providers-refugee-ready-four-lessons-from-uganda

UNHCR delivered essential medical equipment to Iran’s Ministry of Health as part of a $30 million initiative supporting refugee-inclusive healthcare. The supplies—microscopes, rapid test kits, foggers, generators, and medicines—will benefit clinics nationwide, especially in border provinces. The Deputy Representative in 2024, Inna Gladkova, praised Iran’s inclusive health policies, noting the importance of continued international support. This donation strengthens Iran’s response to communicable diseases like malaria and hepatitis, benefiting both refugees and host communities. UNHCR thanked Japan for its vital support and urged the global community to help sustain healthcare access for millions of displaced and refugee-like populations in Iran.

KENYA - Building Evidence to Enhance the Welfare of Refugees and Host Communities in Kenya The Kenya Analytical Program on Forced Displacement (KAP-FD) published a new report, Building Evidence to Enhance the Welfare of Refugees and Host Communities in Kenya, which underscores the urgency of addressing the immediate, mid-term, and long-term needs of refugees and host communities. The new report underscores the importance of enhancing service provision, self-reliance, and resilience of refugees as part of a broader strategy to address spatial inequalities in Kenya. Read the report here: https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/110749

New UNHCR household survey unveils alarming suffering for refugees and hosts in South Sudan: A pilot socioeconomic survey carried out by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warns that the ongoing conflict in Sudan is exacerbating the already severe humanitarian crisis in South Sudan for refugees and the communities hosting them. The findings of UNHCR´s first-ever Forced Displacement Survey (FDS) conducted between April and December 2023 on some 3,100 households in South Sudan show that refugee and hosting communities face similar challenges that aggravate protection risks and limit self-reliance opportunities. Results show that those forced to flee to South Sudan often arrive in rural areas with limited basic services, high unemployment rates, lack of education opportunities, poor infrastructure and overcrowded shelters. Read more here: https://shorturl.at/WDymX

The Government of Japan continues supporting UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, through its Supplementary Budget, and Partnership Grant Aid amounting to over USD 4 million, which helps Afghan refugees access health care in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This generous funding will allow UNHCR to enhance access to quality education and healthcare services for Afghan refugees through Iran’s national educational and healthcare systems. Japan has been a leading supporter of UNHCR’s activities in the country for over a decade, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare for refugees. This new funding reaffirms Japan’s continued commitment to ensuring accessible and affordable health services for the most vulnerable Afghan refugees in Iran. It will also support the construction of public schools benefitting both Afghans and Iranians alike. Building on its long-standing partnership, Japan also had provided critical support of USD 1.2 million to UNHCR’s programmes for Afghan refugees in Iran last year, which helped strengthen the national health care system and services for refugees.

On World Refugee Day (20 June 2024), COMPAS will host a launch event for a new World Bank report entitled 'Refugee Employment: Perspectives for Businesses, Policymakers and Intermediaries'. This study analyses why businesses hire refugees before outlining a framework for key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to collaborate to boost refugee employment in host societies. Please register here: https://www.compas.ox.ac.uk/event/refugee-employment-perspectives-for-businesses-policymakers-and-intermediaries