Empowering Refugee Livelihoods in Albania

Forced to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict, or violence, refugees from places like Syria and Afghanistan strive to rebuild their lives in Albania. Their goal is usually to find a job to support their families and also contribute to their new communities in Albania.

Despite having the legal right to work in Albania, refugees still encounter various challenges when navigating the job market, similar to those faced when settling in a new place. These challenges include learning the language, searching for jobs, preparing for interviews, developing skills, networking, and understanding financial matters.

To empower refugees in overcoming challenges, there's now a programme to guide them in finding and succeeding in jobs. It's a job coaching program, rolled out through a partnership between UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Refugee and Migrant Services in Albania (RMSA), a local NGO providing assistance to refugees in accessing rights and services.

The job coaching programme has two main goals: to empower refugees in their job search and to empower the practitioners supporting them in this process.

Refugees enrolled in the program receive a comprehensive guidance document covering all aspects of getting a job in Albania. They also receive in-person training to boost their skills for a successful job search. At the same time, practitioners get access to tools and resources to more effectively guide refugees on this job search journey.

Refugees, through the guide, have access to practical information and resources, enabling them to confidently navigate the complexities of the job market in Albania. The guide covers crucial areas such as how to get work permits, search for jobs, write a resume, prepare for interviews, develop skills, understand finances, and learn about local culture in Albania.

"This guide is becoming our go-to resource. It doesn't just help us understand work permits and legal rights; it also guides us in identifying industries with the potential for success," mentions Leila.

Alongside the guide, refugees go through a personalized assessment to discover their strengths and areas for improvement. They receive personal coaching to boost their job-seeking skills and present themselves well to potential employers. This coaching includes creating strong cover letters, improving resumes, and succeeding in job interviews. Additionally, they receive individual coaching to refine their soft skills, essential for both professional and personal interactions.

Looking back on the experience, Ahmed shares, "I learned how to make a good resume and got tips for talking and interviewing well. The personal assessment helped me see where I'm good and where I can do better. I am really more confident and ready for the job market".

At the same time, practitioners from the NGO go through specific training to enhance their skills in effectively supporting refugees. This training equips practitioners with an extensive array of tools and resources, including but not limited to training manuals, online job databases, language learning materials, resume templates, interview preparation resources, networking guidance, financial literacy materials, cultural sensitivity training, and materials dedicated to honing soft skills.

Sharing the experience, Artur, a practitioner from RMSA, the local NGO, mentions, "This programme has made a big difference, helping me better assist refugees with confidence as they work towards finding jobs in Albania."

The job coaching programme has been recently completed by the first group of refugees and practitioners. Acknowledging it is early for concrete success stories, the programme is optimistic that these stories will unfold as refugees start applying the enhanced skills they gained.

Note:

• To uphold confidentiality, pseudonyms are used for the mentioned refugees and practitioners in this story.
• For refugees interested in learning more about the program and its services, please contact Refugee and Migrant Services in Albania (RMSA) at rmsa.org@gmail.com or +355 69 2666 267 (Arabic / Albanian) and +355 69 8120 836 (English / Albanian).