Displaced and refugee youth often face multiple barriers to accessing education, skills development, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Conflict and displacement frequently disrupt learning, while legal and administrative obstacles, non-recognition of qualifications, limited labour market opportunities, and challenges accessing civil documentation can prevent young people from translating their skills into sustainable livelihoods.
Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in fragile, conflict and displacement contexts, NRC engages and supports youth to access skills, jobs and pathways to self-reliance. Combining its Youth Education and Skills (YES!) and legal aid (Information, Counselling and Legal Assistance - ICLA) expertise, NRC delivers integrated programmes that address barriers to education, skills development and economic inclusion.
NRC’s experience shows that skills investments are most effective when combined with legal empowerment and efforts to address systemic barriers. Through education, skills training including psychosocial support and legal assistance, NRC engages young people and helps them access accredited training, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, documentation, work permits, business registration and financial services.
Across its operations, NRC works with governments, the private sector, local institutions and youth-led organisations to strengthen pathways from learning to earning.
The brief also showcases NRC’s work in Ethiopia, where integrated education and legal assistance programmes have supported refugee and host community youth to access vocational training, employment opportunities, financial services and land for productive use.
