In this sixth episode of Refugees at work – What are their prospects?, we explore how the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDPN) is reshaping the international refugee response. Speakers, Svein Erik Stav and Tewodros Aragie Kebede share research findings and field experience from Uganda, Ethiopia, Jordan and Colombia, where new policies have expanded refugee access to work and fostered economic inclusion. 

The discussion highlights the positive impacts of granting refugees the right to work, the importance of aligning humanitarian and development policies, and the need to adapt Nexus models to local realities.  

With insights into both successes and ongoing constraints, the episode underscores how refugees can move from dependency to self-reliance when given the right opportunities — benefiting not only themselves but also host communities and national economies. 

Refugee inclusion in practice: Experiences, outcomes, and impacts

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations and is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity.

Today, the ILO helps advance the creation of decent work and the economic and working conditions that give working people and business people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress. Its tripartite structure provides a unique platform for promoting decent work for all women and men. 

Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

Refugee inclusion in practice: Experiences, outcomes, and impacts

International Labour Org.