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Article

29 Jan 2018

Author:
Cindy Huang, Center for Global Development

A WEF Call to Action: How CEOs Can Help Deliver Solutions for Refugees and Host Communities

...One of the most promising entry points for global businesses is including refugees in hiring and supply chains. As employers and buyers at the helm of extensive supply chains that reach deep into local markets, global businesses can play an important role in creating demand for refugee labor, products, and services. Commitments to support refugees should take place in the context of broader policy and investment initiatives that also benefit local communities, which are often experiencing high unemployment, flat or falling incomes, and other vulnerabilities. A notable example is IKEA’s partnership with the Jordan River Foundation, employing Syrian refugees and Jordanians to make hand-woven rugs, textiles, and other products which will eventually be sold in IKEA stores everywhere. Also in Jordan, Airbnb has launched a livelihoods initiative where refugees can advertise services like tours and other local experiences... Giving refugees the right to own a business can also bring substantial benefits to host communities. A recent study found more than 10,000 Syrian-owned businesses in Turkey, each employing 9.4 people on average. And what’s more, Syrians have invested more than $330 million in the Turkish economy since 2011...

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