Addressing the Plight of Immigrants and Refugees: The Role of UNIDO

Abstract

Getting the refugees and immigrants economically empowered and effectively integrated into societies is, though a formidable task, not an act of charity but an act of human justice. Refugees are confronted with multiple obstacles to finding and keeping decent productive empowerment and acceptance. With a low level of education, limited capabilities, and an insecure immigration status, they are often in a befogged state of affairs in the absence of guided directions and assistance to seize possible productive opportunities. The prevailing public services, workforce development, and education facilities often do not adequately respond to their needs, partly because of the challenges of legal status and of issues of cultural conflicts and a general lack of knowledge of emerging opportunities that can offer sustainable sources of livelihoods in terms of income and employment generation. With enhanced adaptive capabilities and skills to use modern technologies and devices and to commercialize new knowledge, refugees and immigrants can contribute to productive activities and productivity growth, as well as emerge as promising entrepreneurs. As evidenced by the country experiences furnished in the article, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is at it through proper sensitization of pertinent issues and options and effective empowerment of refugees in its interventions within the framework of its mandate to foster inclusive sustainable industrial development.