Opportunity alert! 2024 Refugee-led Innovation Fund: The Refugee-led Innovation Fund is currently open to applications from refugee-led organizations in all countries. Applications close 31 May 2024 at 23:59 Panama time. The Fund supports innovation by all organizations led by people with lived experience of forced displacement, including refugees, asylum-seekers, the internally displaced, returnees, and stateless people that are recognized within their communities due to their past significant contributions. Visit our website to find out more about the Funds and access application forms: https://www.unhcr.org/innovation/refugee-led-innovation-fund/

New World Bank Initiative to Strengthen Access to Basic Services, Boosts Food Security, and Builds Resilience for Sudanese Communities: The World Bank is committed to stay engaged in Sudan and to continue to support the wellbeing of the people of Sudan. In an effort to alleviate their hardships and build resilience, the World Bank has worked hand in hand with development partners to approve the Sudan Somoud - Enhancing Community Resilience Project. The project, funded by a $130 million grant from the Sudan Transition and Recovery Support (STARS)* Multi-Donor Trust Fund, will provide funding directly to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP), and will be implemented in partnership with international and local non-government organizations (NGOs). Read more here: https://shorturl.at/nxAFX

Just Launched! Applications for the 2nd Cohort of the Amahoro Fellowship Program: The 12-month program offers a unique platform for leaders with lived experiences of forced displacement. It is a space for our fellows to cultivate and disseminate their ideas on the world stage, expand their networks, and seize numerous professional opportunities. Fellows will also be able to unite in a collaborative and impactful cohort. Each fellow will have the opportunity to participate in a competitive funding process where they can secure up to $100,000 to scale their impact. The Fellows will be a powerful group of change agents, using their voices, skills, expertise, and innovations in business, government, and development institutions to create impactful solutions in Africa and globally. Additional details available here: https://www.amahorocoalition.com/fellowship/

The 2024 UNHCR NGO Award: Since 2018, UNHCR has been celebrating innovative approaches in the way NGOs, and particularly grassroots organizations, support displaced communities. The UNHCR NGO Award (the Award) recognizes their efforts and accomplishments in protection and delivery of services to refugees, returnees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless persons and host communities in need. To reduce inequalities, facilitate greater inclusion, and expand partnerships, the 2024 UNHCR NGO Award will be dedicated to local organizations supporting forcibly displaced and stateless persons with disabilities and organizations that are led by them. Eligible organizations can apply directly or be nominated by UNHCR staff and partner organizations. To nominate an organization, please read more here: https://www.unhcr.org/events/2024-unhcr-global-consultations-ngos. Submit the application by Thursday 28 March 2024.

Ahead of International Women’s Day, the World Bank published new data showing that the global gender gap is far higher than previously thought, with women enjoying only around 2/3 the legal protections afforded to men. The “Women, Business and the Law” Report, which for the first time investigates the impact of childcare and safety policies on women’s participation in the labor market, found that women enjoyed just 64% of the legal protections afforded to men when these two factors were taken into account. The report says that Togo and Sierra Leone have made major positive shifts towards enabling women’s access to the labor market, but implementation of legal frameworks is critical. Download the full report here (https://shorturl.at/wBKQS) and see the analysis section for more comment, including WB VP for Gender Hana Brixi’s trailing of the forthcoming WB gender Strategy.

The Learning Lab Series is excited to announce that a new episode of the PROSPECTS podcast series - Unlocking digital job PROSPECTS for all is now available. In just 15 minutes, explore private sector emerging practices for enhancing market connections, working conditions, upskilling, and social integration for refugees and host community members. Check the 3rd episode (https://shorturl.at/brxMW) on "Inclusion is good for business: Private sector practices to include refugees and host communities in the digital economy" - Guest speaker: Giselle Gonzales, Founder of EqualReach.

Ethiopia launches inclusive ID system for refugees, boosts access to national services The Government of Ethiopia, through its Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) in partnership with National ID Program (NIDP) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency launched an initiative to include refugees and asylum seekers into the Ethiopian Digital ID system. Aiming to facilitate refugees’ access to basic services, this initiative – currently in its pilot stage – is being rolled out in Addis Ababa with the issuance of digital refugee ID cards that feature a unique identification number called “Fayda”. This new refugee ID (with Fayda number) will allow refugees to access key services like obtaining a SIM card, healthcare or school enrolment and will also help them improve their access to financial services, providing refugees with the opportunity to open bank accounts and engage in financial transactions. Refugee entrepreneurs can also formally register their businesses, contributing to the local economy.

Shabelle Bank tests with ILO support innovative product for financial inclusion of hosts and forcibly displaced in Ethiopia: The ILO and Shabelle Bank in Ethiopia have started a new partnership to enhance financial inclusion for hosts and refugees in Ethiopia's Somali region. This collaboration, as part of the PROSPECTS project, will see the launch of tailored financial products, addressing critical service gaps impacting over 916,000 refugees in Ethiopia.

UNHCR - Launch of the UNHCR Assessment and Monitoring Resource Centre: The UNHCR Assessment and Monitoring Resource Centre is a repository of tools and resources to support evidence-based programming and policy-making for UNHCR and our partners. The Resource Centre is the result of work across headquarters divisions and entities to incorporate tools being used by colleagues from many different functions in UNHCR. As the organization continues to work on aligning different assessment and monitoring approaches to strengthen the availability and use of data for better programming, the Resource Centre gathers various resources in a single, accessible location. Read more here: https://www.unhcr.org/handbooks/assessment/

Invitation to Contribute to Research! Are you interested in taking part in a Master’s research under the University of Cambridge? Can you contribute to the research question of "How the private sector can facilitate the scaling of refugee-owned businesses in refugee camps”? If yes, we'd love to hear from you! We're conducting interviews with refugee entrepreneurs, NGOs, RLOs involved in livelihood programs, and private sector representatives to develop a comprehensive framework. Reach out to bg458@cam.ac.uk to share your valuable insights!