Decent and Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities For All

The challenges and barriers refugees face in accessing livelihoods opportunities, ensure self-reliance and decent work conditions remain. These challenges can be grouped into three categories: (a) Low level of skills and employability of refugees, (b) Lack of formal jobs and income opportunities, and (c) Insufficient labour market governance and enforcement. 

Hence forth, The ILO has supported refugees’ access to decent work opportunities since 2015 guided by a Programme of Support spanning over the years adopting a comprehensive, holistic and integrated Refugee Response Programme promoting short- and medium-term employment-rich measures.

The ILO strategy employs three integrated pillars: (1) Increase the availability of a skilled, competent and productive labour supply to facilitate access to decent work for refugees and Turkish host communities; (2) Support local economic development in specific sectors and geographic locations to stimulate job creation and stimulate entrepreneurship opportunities for Syrian refugees and Turkish host communities; (3) Provide support to strengthen labour market governance institutions and mechanisms to assist Türkiye in implementing inclusive development strategies. 

In the light of the information above, grounding on the ILO’s rights-based approach to migration, its standard-setting role and tripartite structure, Supporting Resilience and Social Cohesion with Decent Livelihood Opportunities Project is designed in consultation with the representatives from the workers’ and employers’ organizations, the public authorities and the non-governmental actors paying due attention to the national priorities and development plans and is designed to respect the complementarity principle with the other UN agencies and 3RP partners. Moreover, the following guidelines and policy documents are taken as a basis in the design of the Project: (a) UN 2030 Agenda, (b) the SDGs, 8 and 10 in particular, (c) UNSDCF 2021-2025, (d) ILO P&B 2022 - 202314, (e) 11th Development Plan (2019-2023), (f) the National Employment Strategy (2014-2023) and (g) the National Programme and Action Plan on Elimination of Child Labour (2017-2023). 

The Project has been built on above mentioned three integrated pillars complementing each other to build resilience and strengthen social cohesion among the refugee and host communities at İstanbul, Bursa, Ankara, Adana, Konya, Kocaeli, Kahramanmaraş, Eskişehir and Denizli through the promotion of decent work and sustainable livelihood opportunities and in particular by investing in a skilled and competent labour supply, stimulating job creation and business development, job retention, strengthening labour market governance institutions and enforcement.

The Future of Employment in İzmir: I am Trained for My Job Program

The "I am Trained for My Job" Program, implemented in İzmir through the collaboration of the ILO Türkiye Office and the Youth Deal Cooperative, aims to increase workforce participation among youth and women, particularly those who have taken a break from their careers.
This initiative provides participants with both conceptual and practical training, preparing them for the world of work.
Employers benefit from skilled and motivated employees, while participants enjoy safe and healthy working environments.
The program fosters social integration and promotes sustainable job opportunities, driving long-term economic growth.

Empowering Refugees and Host Communities: ILO Türkiye’s "I am Trained for My Job" Program

Learn about ILO Türkiye’s "I am Trained for My Job" Program and the Registered Employment Transition Program (KİGEP)! In this video, you'll see how skill development training and financial support offered to refugees and local communities promote the transition to registered employment and access to social protection. We aim to protect workers' rights by addressing issues in informal work environments. Watch and share our video for more information! #ILO #KİGEP #LearningMyJob #SocialCohesion

From Potential to Power: Shaping the Workforce of Tomorrow

The "I am Trained for My Job" program, led by the ILO Türkiye Office in partnership with the Youth Deal Cooperative, is revolutionizing the way individuals enter and thrive in the workforce.

From recent graduates to those returning after a career break, from refugees to local communities, this initiative is not just opening doors to careers — it’s breaking down the walls that hold people back.

Hear firsthand from trainers, employers, and participants as they reveal how this program goes beyond conventional training. It builds confidence, creates opportunities, and drives positive change by equipping

individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to excel and grow. By promoting equal opportunities and providing hands-on experience, the program cultivates a resilient workforce ready to tackle today’s challenges.

This is more than a job — it’s a chance to redefine the future of work, making sure everyone has a place and a purpose. 🌍💼

Billur P. Eski̇oğlu, Senior Project Coordinator ([email protected])

Özgür S. Azizoğlu, National Officer for Business Development ([email protected])

Gamze Orhun, Communications Officer ([email protected])

Ayşe Turunç Kankal, Livelihoods Officer ([email protected])

Salih Gökçe Görgeç, National Officer for Governance and Compliance ([email protected])

Muharrem Çopur, Field Operation Assistant ([email protected]) 

Ahmet Aslan, Procurement Assistant ([email protected])

Enver Emre Aykın, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer ([email protected])

Sibel Sezer, Project Assistant ([email protected])

Ebru Okutan, Green Economy Officer ([email protected])

Gamze Hoşgörür Ürünay, Employment and Education Officer ([email protected])

Filiz Yeni, Finance and Administrative Assistant, ([email protected])