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ILO shares lessons from PROSPECTS to advance support for forcibly displaced persons and host communities

The new report and an upcoming digital learning portal highlight lessons from five years of implementation under the PROSPECTS programme, offering practical insights and tools to strengthen inclusive, sustainable support for refugees and host communities worldwide.

9 July 2025

person speaking at the podium while panel members listen to him — Nicholas Grisewood, ILO PROSPECTS Global Programme Manager providing context of the lessons learned exercise.

Geneva (ILO News) — The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a landmark report "Responding to forced displacement: Lessons from the ILO’s engagement in the PROSPECTS programme" to strengthen support for forcibly displaced persons and host communities.

The new report distills key learnings from five years of implementation of the Partnership for improving prospects for forcibly displaced persons and host communities (PROSPECTS) programme across Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Sudan, and Uganda.

At the event at ILO headquarters in Geneva, Nicholas Grisewood, ILO PROSPECTS Global Programme Manager, highlighted the importance of integrated responses to displacement challenges in his opening remarks. "Employment and livelihoods sit squarely at the intersection of the humanitarian and development divide. Through the PROSPECTS programme, a major focus has been to support the emergence of inclusive labour markets underpinned by a holistic and integrated approach that draws upon the comprehensive range of ILO's technical expertise," said Grisewood.

Peter Schuurman, Special Envoy for Migration, Netherlands, sharing Netherland's objectives of supporting the PROSPECTS Partnership.

Peter Schuurman, Special Envoy for Migration, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the Netherlands’ commitment to support PROSPECTS. He said, “The Netherlands is proud to spearhead the PROSPECTS partnership, bringing together key international actors to create real, lasting change for forcibly displaced people and host communities. Our commitment goes beyond funding — it is about investing in human potential, promoting dignity through decent work, and building inclusive societies where everyone can contribute and thrive.”

Celeste Drake, Deputy Director-General, International Labour Organization, highlighted the critical role ILO plays in supporting access of refugees and host communities to inclusive decent work opportunities. Reflecting on the lessons underlined in the publications, she added, “The PROSPECTS lessons highlight the urgent need for a holistic and inclusive vision. One that recognizes decent work not as a privilege for a few, but as a fundamental right for all, including all of those uprooted by crisis. These lessons are central to building strong partnerships and supporting refugees and host communities themselves.”

Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner, UNHCR, underlined the importance of partnerships to create solutions that go beyond humanitarian aid and support long-term solutions. In her address, she underlined, “Partnerships like PROSPECTS are vital to move beyond immediate humanitarian aid and build long-term, sustainable solutions for refugees and host communities alike. By working together, we can help ensure that forcibly displaced people have access to education, decent work, and social protection — giving them the tools and opportunities to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.”

Their remarks highlighted the importance of leveraging mandates of different actors around a key shared objective – to enhance the wellbeing and futures of both displaced and host communities.

Meredith byrne, ILO Knowledge management officer speaking — Meredith Byrne, ILO PROSPECTS Knowledge Management and Learning Officer, sharing key findings of the report.

Meredith Byrne, Knowledge Content Management and Learning Officer for ILO PROSPECTS, presented the report’s main findings, emphasizing the value of a people-centered, context-driven approach.

"Our lessons show that investing in national systems, building trust, and tailoring interventions to local needs are crucial to creating sustainable livelihoods and social cohesion," Byrne noted.

Key findings at a glance

The report underscores that strengthening inclusive national systems—rather than setting up parallel services—can create shared benefits for both host and refugee populations. Among its key insights:

Trust-building and awareness-raising are foundational to effective engagement.
Holistic programming that integrates skills development, enterprise support, and employment services can create more coherent and impactful results.
A balance between short-term impact and long-term systems change is critical.
Interventions must be tailored to local labour markets and grounded in rigorous context analysis.
Promoting social dialogue and social cohesion is essential, though further evidence on refugee participation is needed.
Supporting transitions to formal employment requires tackling legal and policy barriers and providing incentives.
Sustainability depends on embedding services into national frameworks and strengthening local capacities.

Launch of the ILO PROSPECTS Learning Portal

Geke van Dijk, sharing about the learning portal — Geke van Dijk, providing glimpse of the ILO PROSPECTS Learning Portal.

The event also introduced the upcoming ILO PROSPECTS Learning Portal, a new digital knowledge management platform being developed by STBY, partner of the ILO.

Geke van Dijk and Bas Raijmakers, Co-Founders of STBY demonstrated the key features like user specific information on ILO PROSPECTS interventions, country-specific case studies, and an interactive tool to explore thematic areas across different contexts. Designed to serve policymakers, practitioners, and partners, it provides a dynamic, user-friendly space for continuous learning and exchange.

The launch marks an important step forward in advancing the ILO’s commitment to supporting forcibly displaced persons and their host communities through evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable solutions.

About PROSPECTS

PROSPECTS is a global initiative that aims to improve the access of host communities and forcibly displaced people to education, social protection, decent work, and critical infrastructure.

Spearheaded by the Government of the Netherlands, PROSPECTS brings together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank to transform the way governments and stakeholders — including the private sector — respond to forced displacement.