Digital Services Pathway: The ITC-TASC Business Initiative for Refugee Integration

Find out about our latest initiative with the International Trade Center (ITC) focusing on private sector engagement in refugee integration through digital services.

With over 130 million people expected to be forcibly displaced globally by the end of 2024, as forecasted by the UNHCR, we are facing an unprecedented era of displacement in which creating avenues to sustainable livelihoods becomes more crucial than ever. Among them, 35.3 million refugees find themselves navigating the complexities of new economies, often limited by legislation, socio-economic barriers, and a lack of formal employment opportunities. With a mere 38% having practical access to the labor market, the challenge is not just finding a job but securing one that offers dignity and growth. These alarming figures underscore the urgency of finding innovative solutions for economic integration.

Recognizing this pressing need, the International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the TASC Platform, is launching a new initiative aimed at integrating refugees into the burgeoning global digital services market. Building on our recent project on Unlocking Telework for Refugees, this new partnership is geared towards uncovering success stories from pioneering private sector companies who are facilitating digital refugee employment. Highlighting the resilience and innovation at the core of these initiatives, we will explore how both organizations and refugees have adapted and thrived by embracing diversity in the digital services sector. We aim to facilitate peer exchange and distill practical actions to inspire more businesses to follow suit.

As we stand at a critical moment where businesses can make a transformative impact, ITC and the TASC Platform are keen to connect with companies that have adapted their employment strategies to ensure talent retention despite displacement challenges, as well as companies that have proactively sought to employ refugees to provide remote or cross-border digital services in the face of recent political upheavals. 

Are you a business that has embraced digital innovation by integrating displaced talent? Get in touch and let’s collaborate to enhance the digital services ecosystem with diversity and resilience.