Gebeya Inc., a Pan-African SaaS-Enabled Marketplace headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ethiopia, are pleased to announce the establishment of a refugee talent cloud called: “Boundless Skills”. This innovative collaboration is dedicated to positively contributing to the global workforce landscape by unlocking the potential of the digital economy for businesses and refugees alike.
For refugees and the communities that host them, online work can broaden their horizons and provide crucial income – but many still face barriers to full participation.
Through this collaboration, which has been generously supported by the Government of the Netherlands under the PROSPECTS Partnership, Gebeya, and UNHCR join forces to identify and endorse highly skilled refugees and members of their host communities. Bridging the gap between professional experience, higher education credentials, and dignified work opportunities will further advance inclusive digital economic development.
The Boundless Skills initiative aims to facilitate the identification of exceptional talent by organizations worldwide. Gebeya and UNHCR’s collaboration will play a significant role in making digital and socioeconomic inclusion a reality. By bringing together diverse skills and unique perspectives, this partnership will support efforts to make the global workforce thrive.
Amadou Daffe, CEO of Gebeya, expressed his enthusiasm, stating:
“Gebeya is excited to partner with UNHCR to redefine the boundaries of the digital workforce. The boundless skills talent cloud not only addresses the need for talent but also embodies our commitment to creating an inclusive digital economy.”
Gebeya, Inc., a Pan-African SaaS-enabled Talent Marketplace headquartered in Ethiopia, offers AI-powered talent cloud marketplace platforms, and essential expertise to drive Africa’s gig economy. We aim to contribute to Africa’s digital transformation actively, leveraging both continental and global job opportunities to empower African talent further and build upon the already thriving African landscap
“We know that the digital economy can potentially bring huge benefits to refugees – and that, if they are included in the workplace, businesses will also benefit,” said Hovig Etyemezian, Director of UNHCR’s Innovation Service. “We’re thrilled to be working with Gebeya on Boundless Skills – an innovative way to ensure refugees and their hosts in Ethiopia can safely access dignified work online. We also hope that it is a solution that can scale to other refugee hosting areas around the world.”
This partnership promises to revolutionize how organizations access exceptional talent while simultaneously positively impacting the world. It’s a win-win scenario that supports a brighter future for businesses and greater socio-economic inclusion for refugees, amplifying the potential of the global digital economy.
The “Boundless Skills” talent cloud is in line with the pledge made by the Ethiopian government to create more job opportunities for refugees and host communities at the Global Refugee Forum in 2019. Four years later, over 129,000 economic opportunities have been created for more than 38,000 refugees and over 90,000 Ethiopian nationals. With more than 942,000 refugees and close to 4.4 million internally displaced people (IDPs), Ethiopia currently hosts one of the largest refugees and internally displaced populations in the world.
For further information, please contact:
Monalisa Haile
Marketing Director, Gebeya Inc
Monalisa.haile@gebeya.com
About UNHCR:
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a leading organization dedicated to protecting and supporting refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide. UNHCR strives to ensure that every person forced to flee has the right to seek asylum and find safety, and to promote solutions to displacement crises.
Ethiopia hosts one of the largest refugees and internally displaced populations in the world with more than 942,792 refugees as of August 2023 (mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan), some 4.4 million internally displaced people (IDPs), and more than 3.2 million IDP returnees (according to IOM’s DTM).
Following the eruption of conflict in Sudan in mid-April, UNHCR, in partnership with Government’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), regional/local authorities, UN agencies, and NGOs, provided vital protection and life-saving assistance to over 37,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, especially to survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) and Persons with Special Needs (PSN) arriving in Ethiopia.
UNHCR has also been responding to the needs of close to 100,000 Somali refugees fleeing the conflict in Laascaanood, Somalia, and who have arrived in the Doolo zone of the Somali region since February 2023. This zone has not previously hosted refugees. Over 40,000 Somali refugees have been relocated by the Ethiopian government and UNHCR with the support of partners to a new site in Mirqaan, where services including water distribution, emergency shelter, and sanitation are being strengthened to facilitate the inclusion of refugees. Others are being supported within the communities where they have settled.
About Gebeya:
Gebeya is a Pan-African SaaS enabled talent marketplace that connects businesses with qualified digital professionals. Our mission is to unlock the potential of the digital economy by providing access to diverse and exceptional talent. We are passionate about advancing technology that serves as a bridge between African talent and opportunities worldwide.
About the PROSPECTS Partnership project:
Supported by the Government of the Netherlands through its PROSPECTS Opportunity Fund, the Promotion, Inclusion and Protection of Refugees in the Gig Economy project aims to support forcibly displaced and host communities to safely navigate the complexities of the digital economy and advance inclusive access to decent work. Find out more here: https://www.unhcr.org/innovation/prospects/
About the PROSPECTS Partnership project:
Supported by the Government of the Netherlands through its PROSPECTS Opportunity Fund, the Promotion, Inclusion and Protection of Refugees in the Gig Economy project aims to support forcibly displaced and host communities to safely navigate the complexities of the digital economy and advance inclusive access to decent work. Find out more here: https://www.unhcr.org/innovation/prospects/