Multilateral system

The ILO and UNHCR

The ILO, the UN agency for the world of work, and UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, have complementary mandates and expertise in supporting forcibly displaced people’s access to the labour market, decent work conditions, and adequate social protection as part of the larger work on safeguarding their rights and supporting the communities that host them.

The ILO and UNHCR’s collaborative actions are framed by the Memorandum of Understanding, signed in 2016, and the current Joint Action Plan for 2023-25.

Collaboration is guided by three overarching objectives:

Improved governance of access to the labour market and decent work
Strengthened implementation of rights related to decent work
Increased opportunities for jobs, skills and lifelong learning, income, and livelihoods

The ILO and UNHCR work together at the global, regional and country levels.

ILO-UNHCR Partnership Update

Brochure

ILO-UNHCR Partnership Update

Joint action for decent work and sustainable solutions for refugees.

The ILO 101 Guide 

Guide

The ILO 101 Guide 

Organizational values, policy areas, and key programmes and tools in refugee and other displacement contexts.

Joint publications

Handbook on social health protection for refugees: Approaches, lessons learned and practical tools to assess coverage options

Guide to market-based livelihood interventions for refugees

Investing in Solutions: A Practical Guide for the Use of Microfinance in UNHCR operations

Partnership for improving prospects for forcibly displaced persons and host communities (PROSPECTS)

PROSPECTS is a global partnership that aims to improve the access of host communities and forcibly displaced people to education, social protection and decent work.

PROSPECTS