Town Hall Meeting on Entrepreneurship and Migration

On the occasion of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, members of the Solutions Alliance Engaging the Private Sector Thematic Group participated in a Town Hall Meeting on Entrepreneurship and Migration (link is external), composed of two panels on supporting self-reliance and entrepreneurship among those effected by displacement. The event was hosted by UNCTAD and UNDP at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in collaboration with WIPO, the IOM and the Mission of the United States of America.

The discussions provided examples of how entrepreneurship can become a source of economic empowerment and self-employment for migrants, refugees and displaced people. Panelists illustrated how entrepreneurship can contribute to peace and prosperity in fragile and post-conflict countries, particularly by empowering migrants, refugees and displaced people through newly acquired skills, knowledge and networks.

Speakers associated with the Engaging the Private Sector Thematic Group include:

  • Giselle Schellekens (SPARK, Engaging the Private Sector Thematic Group) brought a wealth of hands-on experience and insights from SPARK’s work in supporting higher education and entrepreneurship;
  • David Svab (UNDP Kosovo) spoke on UNDP’s DEED Program to leverage remittances from the diaspora to promote entrepreneurship for sustainable development; and
  • Minako Manome (UNDP Jordan) presented UNDP’s work to promote economic opportunities and boost entrepreneurship among Syrian refugees.

For further information on the work of the Engaging the Private Sector Thematic Group, visit their page and review their issues paper, “Business Solutions for Displacement.

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