Empowering Displaced Talent: Momentum Beyond Geneva
In the many hours of preparation leading up to December's Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, a persistent question loomed – would all our meticulous planning yield results, and could we sustain the momentum? The gratifying buzz and enthusiasm surrounding labor pathways for refugees and displaced talent during those eventful days left us both elated and profoundly humbled. Yet, we couldn't help but wonder, what comes next?
To our slightly fatigued satisfaction, it appears there will be no resting on our laurels. Beyond the pledges made at the Global Refugee Forum, which have paved the way for a comprehensive slate of follow-up initiatives in 2024 spanning countries from Italy and Spain to France, Germany, Canada, the United States, and Australia, the ripples of action extend to source nations across the Middle East, East Africa, Latin America, and Asia. This global endeavor involves a blend of trusted and new partners, including LinkedIn, Duolingo, and the Northpine Foundation.
Even before High Commissioner Grandi brought down the gavel in Geneva, we were already hatching plans with our passionate allies at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to orchestrate an event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, a mere four weeks later. Fast-forward, and now, with the honorable co-convening of UNHCR, the theme of "empowerment through employment" will take center stage in Davos tomorrow morning, gathering 350 heads of state, government ministers, and a diverse array of attendees – all of whom, in their own right, shape the course of our world.
I am personally invigorated to represent Talent Beyond Boundaries and Fragomen on this distinguished, yet more importantly, impactful and influential panel. Alongside me, you will find DG Pope of IOM, Deputy High Commissioner Clements from UNHCR, the distinguished moderator Mark Malloch Brown, President of Open Society Foundations and former Deputy Secretary General of the UN, Francisco Josue Camacho Beltran, CEO of FEMSA, and Karin Kimbrough, Chief Economist of LinkedIn.
Stay tuned for more insights from our discussions in tomorrow's blog, but for now, I have three wishes for the gathering in Davos:
A growing sense of shared purpose, underpinned by the conviction that larger-scale pathways must be forged for those who would otherwise be left behind. This understanding must resonate with the highest echelons of the four essential pillars: business, the UN system, states, and humanitarian and civil society actors.
TBB and our immediate partners find new, influential allies who can amplify our cause and drive change.
The emergence of a tangible plan, one that engages all four pillars, to establish a consortium that designs and implements a bridging project. This project should pave the way from small-scale pilot initiatives to a comprehensive global program.
Davos beckons, forging ahead on a path to empower displaced talent and build a more inclusive world.