7. Qualifications/skills-based pathways (education and employment)
© UNHCR/Josselin Brémaud
Legal channels that permit persons in need of international protection to move to a safe third country for the purposes of employment or higher education, while also having their protection needs met. Refugee eligibility for skills-based pathways is assessed based on professional qualifications and experience or academic merit and relevant qualifications, provided refugees opt to apply for the opportunities at hand.
Overview
Many refugees are located in countries of asylum where they have limited access to higher education or the job market. Education pathways and labour mobility programmes empower refugees to put their skills, qualifications and knowledge into use and access higher education and work opportunities in a third country.
The success of individual applicants in these pathways depends largely on the cross-sector collaboration which supports refugees in leveraging their experience, facilitating their inclusion in national education and labour systems and improving their access to training and support that prepare for complementary pathways. Considering complementary pathways opportunities when planning economic inclusion activities and advocacy lines would further support refugees in attaining such opportunities independently. To this end, UNHCR serves as an advocate and a bridge between partners and refugees, and advocates for policy change or adaptation.
Education pathways
Access to third-country education opportunities corresponds to UNHCR’s objectives set out by both Roadmap 2030 and the Education 2030 Strategy. A diverse range of actors is needed to contribute distinct areas of expertise to make education pathways effective and scalable. This can include universities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), refugee-led and student-led organizations, civil society and faith-based organizations, refugee settlement and support services, local communities, language training providers, credentialling and testing services, country of asylum and third-country governments, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The Global Task Force on Third Country Education Pathways is the first port of call for information on coordination, best practices and technical support in developing and implementing complementary education pathways.
Employment pathways/Labour mobility
Like other complementary pathways, employment pathways aim to promote refugee agency and self-reliance. In many countries around the world, refugee talent can help to address labour market shortages. Essential to this process is securing the support of employers who are keen to recruit and employ appropriately skilled refugees. Strengthening political support and supporting governments to launch and implement labour mobility programmes remains a priority.
UNHCR is a member of the Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility, which works to expand labour mobility pathways globally by engaging private sector, States and non-State actors engaged in global migration and works closely with the members of other fora to ensure that opportunities are nurtured.
Resources
UNHCR webpages
Resources for refugees
Data on complementary skills-based pathways
Global Task Forces
Other relevant resources
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