ILO co-hosts discussion on promoting sustainable livelihoods for Syrian refugees and host communities
The ILO joins FAO and WFP in hosting a roundtable discussion on livelihoods during the Resilience Development Forum for Syrian refugees and host communities, organized by UNDP and hosted by the Jordanian government.
JORDAN (ILO News) - During a high-level forum held in Jordan to discuss the ongoing regional impact of the Syrian crisis, the ILO co-hosted a roundtable discussion with other UN agencies and stakeholders on how to build resilient and sustainable livelihoods for refugees and host communities, while promoting Decent Work.
During the discussion, which was also led by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the ILO highlighted some of the key challenges facing labour markets as a result of the influx of Syrian refugees into neighbouring countries. It also presented some of its approaches and recommendations to building the resilience and livelihood of communities in Jordan and Lebanon affected by the crisis.
“The refugee crisis can be turned into an opportunity for host countries in using it to address structural gaps, such as ‘jobless growth,’ weak labour market governance, skills mismatch, as well as inefficient social protection systems,” said Acting Regional Director of the ILO in the Arab States Frank Hagemann at the roundtable discussion.
The two-day forum, entitled “Resilience Development Forum: Integrating Responses, Expanding Partnerships,” was held at the Dead Sea’s King Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre from November 8-9 and was hosted by the Government of Jordan and convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
"There is evidence that refugees with access to livelihood assets are more likely to use positive coping mechanisms, and are more likely to be the first to return home to their country of origin when it is safe to do so,” Hagemann explained. “Together with the Government and social partners, we can create win-win situations that yield social and economic dividends for both the host communities and refugees.”
It also recommended supporting sectors that have a shortage of skilled labour among nationals, and scaling up livelihood pilot projects into large-scale labour intensive projects of longer duration.
ILO experts also participated in other roundtable discussions, including a debate on Migration and Displacement: Opportunities for Strengthening Resilience.
As part of the wider UN-response to the refugee crisis, the ILO Regional Office for the Arab States has adopted a cross-cutting development-focused strategy in Lebanon and Jordan which supports both refugees and host community residents in order to preserve social and economic stability as well as realise the rights of both to decent work and social justice.
Its interventions focus on building the resilience of host communities to facilitate access to employment and livelihood opportunities; strengthening institutional capacity and coordination mechanisms to combat unacceptable forms of work with a focus on child labour; and supporting policy development to ensure an employment-rich national response, embedded in the principles of Decent Work.
During the discussion, which was also led by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the ILO highlighted some of the key challenges facing labour markets as a result of the influx of Syrian refugees into neighbouring countries. It also presented some of its approaches and recommendations to building the resilience and livelihood of communities in Jordan and Lebanon affected by the crisis.
“The refugee crisis can be turned into an opportunity for host countries in using it to address structural gaps, such as ‘jobless growth,’ weak labour market governance, skills mismatch, as well as inefficient social protection systems,” said Acting Regional Director of the ILO in the Arab States Frank Hagemann at the roundtable discussion.
The two-day forum, entitled “Resilience Development Forum: Integrating Responses, Expanding Partnerships,” was held at the Dead Sea’s King Hussein bin Talal Convention Centre from November 8-9 and was hosted by the Government of Jordan and convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Work for refugees
At the roundtable discussion, which also included high-level representatives such as Jordan’s Minister of Labour Nidal Katamine, the ILO recommended that countries ease the process of obtaining permits for Syrian refugees to work in jobs that generally do not attract nationals. The ILO urged governments to support labour intensive programmes that have the dual benefit of improving public infrastructure and creating legally permitted work opportunities."There is evidence that refugees with access to livelihood assets are more likely to use positive coping mechanisms, and are more likely to be the first to return home to their country of origin when it is safe to do so,” Hagemann explained. “Together with the Government and social partners, we can create win-win situations that yield social and economic dividends for both the host communities and refugees.”
Child labour
ILO officials explained that large-scale child labour has emerged amongst refugee households across the region as a result of livelihood pressures and insufficient school enrolment. The ILO is working with governments, social partners and civil society to tackle child labour. It recommended strengthening institutional capacities to reduce child labour, particularly in its worst forms, and ensure protection and education of children.Joint ventures
The ILO also recommended establishing joint venture initiatives between Syrians and Jordanians by connecting highly-skilled refugees of limited business opportunities with potential Jordanian entrepreneurs, in order to attract investment through facilitating an enabling environment for enterprise development and job growth.It also recommended supporting sectors that have a shortage of skilled labour among nationals, and scaling up livelihood pilot projects into large-scale labour intensive projects of longer duration.
Key stakeholders
The forum brought together key humanitarian and development stakeholders, including UN agencies, international financial institutions, donors and representatives of international and national non-governmental organizations, as well as senior representatives of governments to discuss a wide range of key challenges facing Syria, as well as Syrian refugees and their host communities in neighbouring countries.ILO experts also participated in other roundtable discussions, including a debate on Migration and Displacement: Opportunities for Strengthening Resilience.
As part of the wider UN-response to the refugee crisis, the ILO Regional Office for the Arab States has adopted a cross-cutting development-focused strategy in Lebanon and Jordan which supports both refugees and host community residents in order to preserve social and economic stability as well as realise the rights of both to decent work and social justice.
Its interventions focus on building the resilience of host communities to facilitate access to employment and livelihood opportunities; strengthening institutional capacity and coordination mechanisms to combat unacceptable forms of work with a focus on child labour; and supporting policy development to ensure an employment-rich national response, embedded in the principles of Decent Work.