Breaking Barriers: 100 Refugees Engaged and Counting!

This year, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency , proudly celebrates a significant milestone for the Refugee UN Volunteer (RUNV) Special Initiative. Launched in 2018 in collaboration with UN Volunteers (UNV) the program has evolved from a modest pilot with just six refugees in Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Colombia, to a major smart humanitarian solution.

Today, we celebrate the engagement of 100 refugees and asylum-seekers who bring unique skills and profoundly impact their host communities as teachers, healthcare workers, translators, and advocates.

Empowering Refugees to empower communities

"Growing up in a refugee camp, I witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by my community," shares Prince Lokendo , Assistant to the Global Appeal and Reports Section in Lilongwe, Malawi. "The support from UNHCR was a lifeline. I developed a deep desire to give back and help others in similar situations. This drive to effect meaningful change and advocate for the underrepresented became the foundation of my journey as a RUNV."

In Nairobi, Kenya, Didier Habimana works as a Refugee Youth Coordinator, finding his role both demanding and motivating. "Addressing the complex needs of refugee youth has profoundly impacted my life and those around me," he states. "Seeing their growth and empowerment has been the most rewarding aspect of my journey."

The RUNV initiative not only creates employment opportunities but also promotes integration, understanding, and cooperation between refugees and host communities. Olena Samoilova, a Field Assistant who fled Ukraine in March 2022, reflects on her role: "Working as a volunteer helped me to understand myself better, to become more open, to develop communication and social skills. As I am a refugee myself, I know how refugees feel and how much help they need.”

A Vision for the Future

The initiative is coordinated by the the Division of Human Resources at UNHCR. “We are committed to protecting those forced to flee their homes due to conflict or violence. We are not just saving lives and building better futures; our mission goes beyond working for refugees; we want to work with them. The RUNV initiative was born from this vision," highlights Catty Bennet Sattler , Director of Human Resources.

This collaborative approach underscores the Global Compact on Refugees and the commitments made at the Global Refugee Forum, emphasizing the importance of meaningful refugee participation and co-creation in shaping their futures.

Introduced as a valuable addition to UNHCR’s recruitment practices, the programme provides a framework for meaningful engagement. Since its start, it has become an inclusive participation modality, recognized recently at the Career Development Roundtable in Washington, where UNHCR won the award for Innovation in Recruitment. 

"RUNVs are crucial members of our team, bringing lived experience and expertise, particularly in areas of meaningful participation and community-based protection," adds Mariem Dali , Associate Protection Officer.

As we celebrate this milestone, UNHCR remains dedicated to expanding the RUNV initiative, aiming to involve more refugees and create a ripple effect of positive change. With other UN organizations like the IOM - UN Migration International Organization for Migration already piloting the program, and more agencies interested in participating, the potential for impact is immense. Through empowerment, self-reliance, and integration, the RUNV program is building a brighter future for refugees worldwide.

Catty Bennet Sattler Diego Ruiz Miroslav Medic Zen Patel Szilvia Polgarne Farkas Gabriella Főfai Tunde T. Gustavo Araujo Giulia Serrelli