2023-08-23 23:23:46
Initiative for the inclusion of refugees in the formal Brazilian labor market was led by IFC in partnership with Microsoft Brazil, UNHCR and AVSI Brazil
São Paulo, August 23, 2023 — To boost the inclusion of refugee populations in Brazil, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank, led a project to provide technical training and connect employment opportunities for refugees in the country.
According to Global Trends Report 2022 UNHCR, by the end of 2022, more than 108 million people around the world have been forced from their homes due to conflict, persecution and human rights violations. Of these, more than 6 million left Venezuela in search of international protection and better living conditions, with Brazil being the fifth most popular destination country in Latin America.
The Fronteira Digital project, which had a partnership with Microsoft Brazil, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Volunteer Association for International Service Brazil (AVSI Brasil), is part of an IFC initiative financed by the Japanese government to involve the private sector in developing solutions for the socioeconomic integration of the refugee population in Brazil. At the same time, the project encourages companies to promote values such as diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities in support of the 2030 Agenda, seeking to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Fronteira Digital was also conceived with the aim of leveraging the potential of the technology sector as an employer and income generator in Brazil. The initiative, launched in September 2021, consisted of offering courses in Microsoft 365 and Power Platform for 30 refugees located in Boa Vista (RR), of which more than half were women. The project involved setting up a computer lab with up-to-date equipment and software to carry out courses and mentoring and follow-up sessions for the generation and sharing of knowledge.
After carrying out the technical training in technology, Fronteira Digital helped in the preparation of curricula, in the support for the connection of job opportunities in other regions of Brazil and in the awareness of companies participating in the Companies with Refugees Forum and external for potential hiring of refugee professionals. As an immediate result, Fronteira Digital promoted twenty-two selection processes and five direct hires.
Structured to be a replicable model by different companies in the Brazilian market, the experience acquired in the project was documented in a digital report with relevant information so that the private sector interested in contributing with its expertise can boost inclusive economic development and implement employability initiatives with training component.
material is available no site da IFC and the Companies with Refugees Forum. The launch of the report closes the agenda of activities proposed in the partnership signed in 2021 between IFC and Microsoft and shows possible ways to scale employability solutions for refugees.
With training opportunities and access to opportunities consistent with their experiences and training, refugee professionals have a lot to contribute to local development and to the results of contracting companies, adding innovation, knowledge and commitment to the goals set. Employing refugee professionals is an effective relationship in which refugees, the local community, companies and governments gain, simultaneously, with concrete and lasting results.
About IFC
IFC – a member of the World Bank Group – is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in over 100 countries, using our capital, expertise and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal 2023, IFC allocated a record $43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in these countries, thereby leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and increase shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About AVSI
AVSI Brasil is a non-profit Brazilian organization that has been operating in Brazil for over 35 years as a subsidiary or partner of the AVSI Foundation. AVSI Brasil’s mission is to make people protagonists of their own development, through social projects in contexts of vulnerability or humanitarian emergency. In 2022, the organization developed 37 projects, with the commitment of 600 employees, directly benefiting more than 844,000 people. To learn more, visit the organization’s website (www.avsibrasil.org.br) or access social networks (@avsibrasil).
About UNHCR
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is an organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and ensuring a dignified future for people who have been forced to leave their homes and communities due to war, armed conflict, persecution or serious violations of human rights. Present in more than 130 countries and twice awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, UNHCR works together with national and local authorities, civil society organizations, academia and the private sector to ensure that all refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons find safety and support to rebuild their lives with dignity. Learn more at www.acnur.org.br and through our social networks (UNHCR Brazil).
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation in the era of the intelligent cloud and the intelligent edge. Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. The company has been in Brazil for 34 years and is one of the subsidiaries of Microsoft Corporation, founded in 1975, which is present in over 190 countries. From July 2021 to June 2022, the company invested more than US$ 15 million in donations and discounts for non-profit entities, impacting more than 2,000 institutions with software donations, discounts for purchases and support for training projects. With the launch of the Microsoft For Startups Founders Hub, 443 new startups were approved, totaling 703 supported startups, which together have consumed USD 11,898,488.00 of Azure cloud credits.
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