Empowering Talent, Inspiring Change: Our Pledge and Commitment to Refugees

A message from our Global CEO.

Over the last six weeks, the world has been witnessing harrowing violence and loss of life. At Talent Beyond Boundaries, we unequivocally oppose all forms of violence and oppression – which are the ultimate causes of human displacement, which TBB exists to address.

Talent Beyond Boundaries strongly backs calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the upholding of international humanitarian law and the release of all hostages.

We admire and support the work of organizations and partners operating on the ground in the most challenging and dangerous circumstances right now, including:

Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund - providing supplies to hospitals as well as emergency items to shelters

Médecins Sans Frontières - providing lifesaving medical relief

United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) - providing shelters and humanitarian relief in UNRWA schools

We encourage all of you to support their work.

The Global Refugee Forum could not come at a more critical time.

In the past two years, we've witnessed a staggering increase in the number of people forcibly displaced from their homes. Whether in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan, or the recent mass internal displacement in Gaza, innocent civilians consistently suffer the consequences of these military actions.

Until there is a genuine commitment to resolving conflicts through diplomacy while upholding the sanctity of human lives and dignity, the cycle of forced displacement will persist. We must rely on a robust global humanitarian community to protect and support those in need.

Talent Beyond Boundaries is just one part of this vast humanitarian effort, and we have a significant opportunity on December 13th at the Global Refugee Forum to unite with others in championing skilled migration pathways for refugees. During this forum, our aim is to secure tangible commitments from governments, fellow humanitarian organizations, and the private sector to expand these pathways and make a meaningful impact.

I’m excited to share TBB’s plans with you in this newsletter, as well as a recap of some of our great progress over the past month and a report from Lara Dyer, our Canada Director, from her recent scoping trip to Kenya.

Thank you for your support and interest in TBB’s work!

Support TBB’s pledge at the Global Refugee Forum 2023

We’re in full swing in preparation for the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva next month. This event will be a crucial platform to assess the progress towards expanding access to labour mobility opportunities for refugees and other displaced people. As we prepare for the Forum, TBB has outlined its wish list for a future where refugee labour mobility is integral to the global response to displacement. 

TBB is also making our own ambitious pledge at the Global Refugee Forum to 

1. Establish skilled immigration pathways for refugees and forcibly displaced individuals in at least 27 countries by 2027
2. Assist over 15,000 displaced individuals in migrating through labour mobility pathways 
3. Train at least 24 partner organizations to match refugees with job opportunities in countries where they can safely migrate, recognizing that partnership is essential to scaling this solution. 

You can view and endorse the full text of TBB’s pledge here.

We welcome partner organizations, businesses and other supporters to endorse our pledge and help us achieve these ambitious goals. Any organization wishing to do so can simply write to media@talentbeyondboundaries.org to let us know you endorse the pledge and tell us what your organization can do to help achieve the goals of the pledge (this could include hiring refugees, providing funding or any other creative ideas.) 

Reflections from Lara Dyer on TBB’s scoping mission in Kenya

Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Kenya as part of a scoping mission with RefugePoint and other partner organizations. Splitting our time between Nairobi and the Kakuma Refugee Settlement, we were there to explore how to expand Canada’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) to offer more opportunities for refugee healthcare candidates to relocate to Canada to work with employers nationally.

At Kakuma Refugee Settlement, we were graciously received by our UNHCR Kenya colleagues, who shared with us that Kakuma is a growing settlement with over 285,000 people. The number of displaced people is climbing each year due to protracted conflicts or environmental stressors and underscores the immense need for programs like the EMPP, which offers durable solutions. While we were there, we saw the untapped potential of displaced talent in supporting many of Canada’s major industries. We heard again and again that those who have relocated through the EMPP are inspiring others to upgrade their skills so they, too, can be competitive for labour market opportunities in Canada.

This mission was fueled by collaboration with RefugePoint, UNHCR Kenya, Tri-County Mennonite Homes, 369 Global, Computek College, and SkyHive and made possible by the generous support of World Education Services. Their leadership and many other Canadian employers are bringing new solutions to critical labour shortages across Canada and literally changing lives, one job at a time.

To the Canadian business community and employers, please – become champions for refugee labour mobility. This is no longer a risky innovation with an uncertain success rate. You are guaranteed to have great people coming to work for your companies and enrich your communities, and you will be changing the world for the better. 

Learn more about our trip to Kenya and read testimonials from employers who came along here. 

Talent Beyond Boundaries, IOM and Fragomen at Web Summit in Portugal

This month, the EU-funded and International Organisation for Migration (IOM)-led Displaced Talent for Europe (DT4E) initiative was invited to participate in the 70,000-participant summit in Lisbon as a sponsored Community Partner. 

We were privileged to speak on a distinguished fireside panel discussion as part of the Future Societies Series.  The panel, titled "Tech for Hope: Revolutionizing Refugee Labor Mobility," featured our very own Marina Brizar, the UK & Europe Director of TBB, alongside Mónica Goracci, IOM’s Director of Programme Support & Migration Management. Together, they addressed an engaged audience of approximately 500 tech industry representatives, highlighting the depth of tech talent in refugee communities around the world and encouraging the private sector to hire displaced talent, partner with us, and, now more than ever, be a driving solution to the world’s growing displacement realities. 

Holly Asquith , our Head of UK Programs, wrote more about the experience here.

Watch the panel discussion.

What We’re Celebrating

DT4E wins at the 2023 IOM Innovation Awards in the category of Regular Pathways!

IOM Belgium & Luxembourg received the 2023 IOM Innovation Awards in the category of Regular Pathways for our Displaced Talent for Europe (DT4E) project. DT4E is an innovative pilot project funded by the European Union and led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that enables displaced individuals in Jordan and Lebanon to connect with employers in Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, and the UK. Talent Beyond Boundaries is proud to work with IOM on this impactful program!

Another TEMI Award!

TBB and Fragomen won the gong for Partnership of the Year at the TEMI Workforce Management Awards for Australasia for our work helping businesses recruit refugees through the Australian Skilled Refugee Pilot. Thanks to this deepening partnership, we are celebrating a significant increase in job offers for refugees and candidate arrivals over the past three months (the strongest quarter to date!)

Extension of UK’s Displaced Talent Mobility Pilot for another year 

We’re thrilled to announce that the UK’s Displaced Talent Mobility Pilot has been extended for another year, with more businesses being encouraged to hire skilled refugees. First launched in 2021, the pilot aims to match up to 200 people with employment opportunities in the UK. Refugees and people fleeing conflict and instability coming to the UK under the government’s displaced talent schemes contribute nearly £1 million yearly in income tax and national insurance. 

Nurses from TBB’s Displaced Healthcare Talent Programme included in King’s 75th birthday celebrations.

Our team in the UK was invited to Buckingham Palace to celebrate King Charles’ 75th birthday at the International Nurses Celebration Event. Our Displaced Healthcare Talent Programme has already paved the way for over 200 nurses to leave displacement behind, embarking on a journey to the UK to serve the NHS and private healthcare providers. We are thrilled to see the program thriving and making a positive impact.

Airport Arrivals

Here is a small sample of the many happy airport arrivals we’ve witnessed recently:

Hire Displaced Talent

Finding new ways to address talent shortages is an economic imperative. The global refugee population can be part of the solution.

Start recruiting!