Our commitments to support refugees on the path to self-reliance
December 16, 2019
Public sector, private sector, humanitarians, refugees, everyone: we all have a responsibility to build a world where no one is left behind.
Over the next three days, 16-18 December, IKEA and the IKEA Foundation are joining the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva. Together, we can transform international solidarity into concrete actions and improve our global response to help the world’s 25.9 million refugees. Every action counts.
IKEA Retail (Ingka Group), Inter IKEA Group and IKEA Foundation have each made different commitments that will help refugees become part of their host communities in the coming years. Our common viewpoint is that refugees, with their skills and experience, bring value to business and society.
Pledges for refugees
Ingka Group plans to support 2,500 refugees through job training and language skills initiatives in 300 stores and units in 30 countries.
Inter IKEA Group will enable 400 women to earn a sustainable living through its partnership with Jordan River Foundation.
The IKEA Foundation has committed €100 million in grants over the next five years for programmes that help both refugees and people in their host communities improve their incomes and become more self-reliant.
Access to decent work
Per Heggenes, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, said: “Record number of people are being forcibly displaced from their homes and 80% of the world’s refugees are being hosted in neighbouring countries. Many of these countries are already struggling with high levels of unemployment, making it even more difficult for refugees and their host communities to coexist peacefully. We are supporting programmes that help people who have been forced to flee, as well as the communities hosting them, to develop the skills and resources they need to earn a better income, to find employment, or to start their own businesses.”
The time has come for us to work together so that every refugee has access to decent work.
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