Welcome refugees. Hire refugees. Stand with refugees.
More people have been forced to flee their homes by conflict and crisis than at any time since World War II: more than 70 million. In the face of unprecedented global displacement, the private sector has a vital role to play. That is why the International Rescue Committee is joining a business-led movement to step up and stand with refugees.
Many businesses already are. Across Europe, businesses are hiring refugees, speaking out for refugees and creating products and services tailored to their needs. The International Rescue Committee has teamed up with Virgin, Ben & Jerry’s, Tent Partnership for Refugees and The B Team to explore how to take this to the next level.
Businesses have the power to lend their voice and leadership to support refugees. This is an opportunity to enhance the choices, opportunities and skills of refugees whose lives have been torn apart and livelihoods destroyed.
With the right support and the right opportunities, refugees will be able to re-establish and grow their careers, build and plan for the future, and contribute to the world of work.
Businesses can play a role in responding to the humanitarian crisis the world now faces. When companies recognise and celebrate the intrinsic value and contributions of refugees to communities and businesses, they benefit. Done right, supporting refugees can help businesses meet labour and skills shortages, grow new markets and enhance productivity through diverse work forces.
The Business Refugee Action Network brings together European businesses that want to take action on the refugee crisis.
We’re supporting refugees by:
- Incubating, experimenting and innovating: we’re creating a business community that fosters innovative approaches to improving the lives and economic opportunities of refugees. This will be done by: a) identifying relevant opportunities for experimentation and piloting b) facilitating business-led incubation c) sharing the findings across the network.
- Advocacy: we’re increasing refugees’ opportunities by mobilising business to influence key national, regional and global policy debates.
In short, we’re building a strong coalition of businesses for the long-term.
You can lend your voice and your leadership to business-led action for refugees.
To find out more about joining the Business Refugee Action Network, sign up here.
Business takes a stand for refugees at the UNGA
The Business Refugee Action Network brought together global business leaders, philanthropic organisations and government officials during the 2019 United Nations General Assembly to take a stand for refugees and call on governments to do more.
Meet the founding partners
The IRC is proud to have teamed up with these businesses and organisations to start the network.
Collaboration
The Business Refugee Action Network is fostering a business community taking action in support of refugees. We’re happy to collaborate with other initiatives in the field such as the 'Let Them Work' Initiative by the Center for Global Development (CGD) and Refugees International. If your organisation is interested in working with Business Refugee Action Network, please do get in touch!