Promote Economic Empowerment

The HIAS Foundation supports economic empowerment work. We ensure refugees have safe economic opportunities to earn sustainable income and contribute to their communities.

When people flee violence and persecution, they leave their whole lives behind and have to start over from scratch. Learn how refugees around the world are not only rebuilding their lives and careers but also giving back to their new communities. (SideXSide for HIAS)

Overview

One of the most important opportunities for refugees is to build skills, earn a living, and invest in their communities. The HIAS Foundation supports HIAS’ economic empowerment programs ensure that refugees have safe economic opportunities to earn sustainable income and rebuild their lives. Our programs are market-oriented, protection-focused, and concentrate on economic empowerment of all refugees, including women and survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

40,000+

people accessed our economic empowerment services and support in 2024.

Countries

United States
Aruba
Chad
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Guyana
Israel
Kenya
Panama
Peru
Venezuela

Strategies

Our programs help refugees and their host communities build self-reliance, increase resilience, regain dignity, and provide opportunities for independent and meaningful futures. Access to sustainable livelihoods is an important tool for meeting refugees’ needs for protection, food security, housing, health, and other services.

HIAS' economic empowerment programs aim to:

  • Equip displaced people with the skills, tools, and knowledge needed to navigate local labor markets through job readiness workshops, vocational training, and financial literacy programs.

  • Provide seed funding, credit-building tools, and business development support to help displaced individuals launch and grow small businesses, fostering long-term economic stability.

  • Build partnerships with employers and industry leaders to create job placement pipelines, mentorship opportunities, and inclusive hiring practices that connect refugees to sustainable livelihoods.

Impact Stories

Mohamed Alshalabi, proprietor of Shiyra’s Sweets in Ann Arbor, Michigan, prepares baklava. (Amanda Mae for JFS of Washtenaw County)

Deep Dive: The Economic Impact of Refugee Resettlement

There is a common misconception that refugees are an economic drain on the U.S. economy. In fact, the opposite is true.

Learn more