Presented by: TO Date: 18/07/2013

Employment in Eritrea 2003 – 2010 Senior Budgets Officer, Ministry of Finance 2005 – 2010 Research & Consultancy (Care International, Refugee Trust International, International Red Cross, Catholic Relief) 7/18/20132

Study overseas Public Finance study: United Nations Institute for Training & Research 2011 MA Public Management & Policy, Germany, University of Potsdam (Distinction) 2003 BA Economics & Finance (Eritrea) 7/18/20133

International workshops 2013 Lisbon– EU funded Food We Want Programme workshop 2011 Brussels – Global Environmental policy workshop 2010 Uganda – UNDP Local Government Forum for MDGs 2010 Kenya - IMF – Financial Integration model 2007 China Economic Development model 4

UK Present – PENHA (P/T) Development Project officer UK press officer Food We Want EU funded project Fundraising Committee Nov 2012 – June British Red Cross (via Transitions) P/T Learning & Organizational Research officer (Vodafone) Dec June 2013 Arhag Housing Association (informed by Transitions) Community Engagement Officer internship Chartered Institute of Housing Level 2 qualification June – Sept 2012 Mayor‘s Community Champion Borough of Tower Hamlets – London Olympics and Paralympics 5

Achievements in UK PENHA Fundraising: £250,ooo raised in 2012 Currently final phase in £500,000 bid to DFID British Red Cross: Co-applied successfully for Vodafone funding of post Conducted SWOT analysis; current state of play, benchmarking, updating business case IT competencies shown: Google forms, Excel, Trello, Office 365, Blogging; Prizy Arhag Housing Enhancing/maintaining satisfaction survey Presented findings to management, providers and tenant representatives Addressing personal challenges Building UK working experience/earned income/ keeping & building confidence 6

Professional Development plans To enhance: Understanding of UK International Development and humanitarian aid sector (focus on ODI & IIED). UK Digital fundraising skills UK project-based finance management skills UK grants/financial reporting/narrative reporting skills Knowledge of European institutional donors and their requirements Gain professional body Accreditations and memberships (CIPFA, RedR) 7

Some specific problems for refugee professional candidates Lack of UK work experience & references Therefore skilled & experienced refugees are relatively uncompetitive in UK jobs market Employers/HR lack of information about refugees Low interest to hire refugees – specially INGOs Over qualified for certain jobs Equivalence of Qualifications problems Self confidence and cross-cultural presentation barriers 8

Suggestions to address the problems At organization level – Advocacy for Refugee professionals’ competencies – Recruitment agencies & employers increased awareness of refugee employment rights – Career advice & internships opportunities for refugees At Individual level – CV gaps: try to find relevant experience – Widen network – to create better chances – Build strong human & social network – Understand UK labour market – Start with junior level posts to rebuild your career 9

Some tips for effective professional jobsearch Keep up spirits and keep applying Develop tailored CVs Always try to answer to essential criteria Expand your network and use social media to be accessible by employers 10

Way forward – Awareness: Refugees are not employment migrants and they are not coming here to seek benefits and better life. – Assessment We had good & professional jobs – ability to work with low facilities and resources and transferable skills that could greatly add value to UK organisations – Respect Left our beloved ones behind us – so we need respect and assistance. 11