全世界正在設(shè)法為超過二戰(zhàn)紀(jì)錄的難民群體提供住處并予以照料——聯(lián)合國難民署的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,被迫離鄉(xiāng)背井的人口已達(dá)6500萬左右。與此同時,美國同意接收的尋求庇護(hù)者人數(shù)上限則降至1980年以來的最低點(diǎn)。此外,據(jù)《華爾街日報》報道,白宮還計(jì)劃明年再次下調(diào)難民接收人數(shù)上限。 雖然美國聯(lián)邦政府在幫助人道主義危機(jī)受害者方面變得不那么積極,但全球發(fā)展中心強(qiáng)調(diào),有些公司正在采取措施,幫助這些占全球人口1/122的無家可歸者或?qū)で蟊幼o(hù)的人。 CGD是一家設(shè)在華盛頓的智囊機(jī)構(gòu),重點(diǎn)研究旨在減少全球貧困和貧富不均現(xiàn)象的政策。 雇傭難民 CGD報告認(rèn)為,安全和獲得體面工作是無家可歸者實(shí)現(xiàn)自給的主要障礙。 今年1月白宮推出旅行禁令后,星巴克立即承諾將在未來五年內(nèi)聘用1萬名難民。作為此項(xiàng)措施的一部分,該公司和聯(lián)合國難民署、國際救援委員會以及Tent Foundation展開了合作。星巴克已將緬甸和伊拉克難民作為重點(diǎn)招聘對象,并表示將繼續(xù)著重聘用在美國軍隊(duì)中擔(dān)任翻譯和支持人員的無家可歸者。 宣布此項(xiàng)措施之際,時任星巴克首席執(zhí)行官的霍華德·舒爾茨在寫給員工的備忘錄中表示:“長期以來,星巴克一直在全球范圍內(nèi)聘用尋找機(jī)會和新生活途徑的年輕人。正是出于這個原因,我們做出了兩倍于以往的承諾,通過和自營市場員工、合資公司以及授權(quán)市場合作伙伴協(xié)作,為那些躲避戰(zhàn)亂、暴力、迫害和歧視的人們尋找機(jī)會,我們要?dú)g迎他們?!?/p> 雖然此項(xiàng)決定帶來了一些不利影響,但星巴克表示,為雇傭難民付出巨大努力并未對自身品牌產(chǎn)生長期損害。 雖然一些公司可能無法直接大量聘用難民,但它們也可以設(shè)法將難民所有的企業(yè)納入自己的供應(yīng)鏈。 西夫韋公司約旦分部已經(jīng)攜手美國國際開發(fā)署,開始和敘利亞人開設(shè)的當(dāng)?shù)毓咀錾?。CDG指出,該地區(qū)的西夫韋店鋪現(xiàn)已成為約旦本國人以及敘利亞難民的就業(yè)途徑。 針對難民公司投資或采購 聯(lián)合國難民署表示,去年僅在滿足難民基本需求方面就存在31億美元的預(yù)算缺口。要讓這個群體實(shí)現(xiàn)自立,欠缺的資金更是遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超出這個數(shù)字。 CDG報告指出:“跨國投資機(jī)構(gòu)可通過投資于聘用難民和向難民外包的公司、難民所有的中小型企業(yè)、公益型企業(yè)以及發(fā)展效益?zhèn)瘉硖岣唠y民的生活水平并獲得經(jīng)濟(jì)回報?!?/p> CDG報告還認(rèn)為,難民群體經(jīng)常為其安置地區(qū)帶來新的技術(shù)。有意著手于此類投資的公司可利用政治風(fēng)險保險和貸款擔(dān)保來降低風(fēng)險。 為難民提供量身定制的產(chǎn)品和服務(wù) CDG報告稱,公司還可將難民作為客戶。 例如,愛彼迎設(shè)立的Open Homes平臺就是為了幫助難民找到愿意免費(fèi)為其提供住處的房東。愛彼迎稱,這個項(xiàng)目今年6月在美國、加拿大和希臘啟動,現(xiàn)已擴(kuò)展至法國、意大利、德國和西班牙。在愛彼迎網(wǎng)站上,達(dá)拉斯和丹佛的居民介紹了向無家可歸者提供住處的情況。 對此,愛彼迎聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人喬·杰比亞寫道:“我們意識到在五年時間里協(xié)助10萬難民找到臨時住處是個很高的目標(biāo),但我們相信,只要攜手合作,這個目標(biāo)絕對可以實(shí)現(xiàn)。畢竟,每次我們請求當(dāng)?shù)鼐用癯ㄩ_大門和心扉來幫助別人時,他們做的都會超過我們的預(yù)期?!?/p> 公司還在和當(dāng)?shù)亟M織合作,目的是調(diào)整現(xiàn)有產(chǎn)品,以解決難民問題。萬事達(dá)已經(jīng)在和援助機(jī)構(gòu)攜手開發(fā)數(shù)字憑證、預(yù)付借記卡和移動基金經(jīng)銷網(wǎng)絡(luò),以便難民使用他們的金融產(chǎn)品。 萬事達(dá)總裁兼CEO彭安杰表示:“這些年來,我們用自己的思路和技術(shù)幫助幾億人和常規(guī)經(jīng)濟(jì)建立了聯(lián)系,并讓援助變得更安全、高效。通過擴(kuò)大業(yè)務(wù)驅(qū)動部門的規(guī)模來利用創(chuàng)新、實(shí)地經(jīng)驗(yàn)和長期資本投資,我們可以讓糟糕的情況變得好起來?!保ㄘ敻恢形木W(wǎng)) 譯者:Charlie 審稿:夏林 |
As the world tries to house and care for a refugee population larger than the record set in World War II — some 65 million people have been forcibly displaced, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees — the cap on the number of asylum seekers allowed to enter the U.S. is the lowest it's been since 1980. What's more, the White House plans to lower the refugee cap again next year, according to the Wall Street Journal. While the federal government takes a less active role in helping the victims of humanitarian crises, the Center for Global Development is highlighting a few companies have taken steps to help the one in 122 people that are displaced or seeking asylum. The CGD is a D.C.-based think tank focused on policies to reduce global poverty and inequality. Hire refugees Access to safe and decent employment is a major barrier to self-sufficiency for displaced populations, according to the CGD report. In January, on the heels of the White House's travel ban announcement, Starbucks pledged to hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years. As part of their efforts, the company partnered with UNHCR as well as the International Rescue Committee and the Tent Foundation. The company has spotlighted refugees-turned-new hires from Burma and Iraq, and said it plans to continue to focus on hiring displaced people who worked as translators or support people for the U.S. armed forces. "We have a long history of hiring young people looking for opportunities and a pathway to a new life around the world," Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, wrote in a memo to employees at the time of the announcement. "This is why we are doubling down on this commitment by working with our equity market employees as well as joint venture and licensed market partners in a concerted effort to welcome and seek opportunities for those fleeing war, violence, persecution and discrimination." Though the company faced a backlash for the decision, Starbucks said it hasn't see any long-term damage to its brand for making a significant effort to employ refugees. While some organizations may not be able to employ many refugees directly, companies can also look for ways to include refugee-owned businesses in their supply chains. The Jordanian branch of Safeway, Inc. worked with USAID to start doing business with local Syrian-owned companies. The Safeway stores in the region are now a source of employment opportunities for both Jordanian nationals and Syrian refugees, says CDG. Invest in and buy from refugee-owned businesses While the UN refugee agency reported a $3.1 billion budget gap just to meet the basic needs of refugees last year, there’s a significantly larger shortfall for getting these populations set up to support themselves. "Global investment firms can improve refugee livelihoods and achieve financial returns by investing in companies that hire and source from refugees, refugee-owned small and medium-sized enterprises, social enterprises, and development impact bonds," the CDG report says. The report also points out that refugee populations often bring new skill-sets with them into the areas where they resettle. Companies interested in getting started with this kind of investing can use political risk insurance and loan guarantees to mitigate risk, said the CDG. Tailor products and services for refugees Companies can also engage with refugees as customers, the CDG report says. For example, Airbnb created an Open Homes platform, which helps connect refugees looking for a place to stay with hosts willing to house them for free. The program, which launched in the U.S., Canada, and Greece in June, has already expanded to France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, according to Airbnb. Hosts from Dallas to Denver have shared what it's like opening their homes to displaced families on the company's website. "We realize that facilitating temporary housing for 100,000 vulnerable people within five years is an ambitious goal, but we are confident it is absolutely achievable if we work together," Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia wrote about the initiative. "After all, every single time we’ve asked our community to open their doors and hearts to help others, they have more than exceeded our expectations." Companies have also worked with local groups to modify their existing products to solve problems for refugees. Mastercard partnered with aid organizations to develop digital vouchers, prepaid debit cards, and mobile fund distribution networks that allow refugees to access their financial products. “Over several years, we’ve applied our thinking and technology to help hundreds of millions connect to the formal economy and to help empower safer and more efficient aid distribution,” said Ajay Banga, president and CEO of Mastercard. “We can have transformational impact by scaling our business-driven organization to leverage innovation, on-the-ground experience and long-term capital investments.” |