Successful elements in refugee support and learning through exchange : Lessons learned from Access to Employment and MHPSS approaches in the Netherlands, Ethiopia and Jordan

In the Netherlands and in the regions of origin, many actors are involved in supporting asylum seekers and refugees: in the field of access to work and income and access to mental health care and psychosocial support (MHPSS). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (MFA-NL) is actively involved in supporting humanitarian and development programs implemented by various (inter)national and local actors in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. Many actors in the Netherlands work on themes to support asylum seekers and refugees in the Netherlands.

Out of an estimated 79.5 million displaced people worldwide, 26 million are refugee. More than 80% of refugees worldwide live in neighbouring countries in their region of origin. In recent years a consensus has emerged globally regarding the desirability of a new approach to the hosting of asylum seekers and refugees. Instead of lengthy stays in camps where asylum seekers and refugees are merely supported in covering their basic needs, people should be given the opportunity to become self-reliable, participate in their host society and work on their future from the outset. To make this possible, it is important to invest in host communities.

To this end, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (MFA-NL) has been actively involved in supporting humanitarian and development programmes implemented by various (inter)national and local actors in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. These include interventions focusing on access to work and income and access to mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) for asylum seekers and refugees. Many actors in the Netherlands (including ministries, municipalities and civil society organisations) work on similar themes and are involved in supporting asylum seekers and refugees within the Dutch context. They share many years of experience with programmes and interventions in the fields of access to employment and MHPSS. Although the context and scale differ, the Netherlands and host countries in refugees’ regions of origin face similar issues and have both learned many lessons through years of hosting asylum seekers and refugees.

Actors in the Netherlands and in countries in the regions of origin are in constant search for more effective ways of participation and integration of refugees in their societies. The aim of this study is to share available knowledge on interventions in the Netherlands in the fields of access to (durable) employment and MHPSS with actors in the Netherlands, in regions of origin, and in other (host) countries in the world. The study will support sharing of knowledge in these thematic areas between relevant actors, facilitate (mutual) learning and support – where relevant - scaling of (important elements of) these interventions in other parts of the world. This is in line with the commitments expressed in the Global Compact on Refugees to share and exchange knowledge. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognizes that the Netherlands and host countries in refugees’ regions of origin face similar challenges and have both learned valuable lessons through years of hosting refugees. The themes of employment and MHPSS have been chosen due to their importance in the integration process of refugees, them being a core focus of Dutch programming in regions of origin as well as the extensive experience actors in the Netherlands have in these fields. Sharing experiences and lessons learned between hosting countries can benefit organisations that are active in either or both contexts. Besides mapping good practices, the aim of this study was therefore to create linkages and facilitate an equal exchange between actors working in the Netherlands, and in host countries bordering refugees’ countries of origin.