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)

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Study overseas

2006 -2012 Public Finance study: United Nations Institute for Training & Research

2011 MA Public Management & Policy, Germany, University of Potsdam (Distinction)

2003 BA Economics & Finance (Eritrea)

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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

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UK

2012 - Present – PENHA (P/T) Development Project officer UK press officer Food We Want EU funded project Fundraising Committee

Nov 2012 – June 2013 - British Red Cross (via Transitions) P/TLearning & Organizational Research officer (Vodafone)

Dec. 2012 - June 2013 Arhag Housing Association (informed by Transitions) Community Engagement Officer internshipChartered Institute of Housing Level 2 qualification

June – Sept 2012 Mayor‘s Community Champion Borough of Tower Hamlets – London Olympics and Paralympics

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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

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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)

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Some specific problems for refugee professional candidates

Lack of UK work experience & referencesTherefore skilled & experienced refugees are

relatively uncompetitive in UK jobs marketEmployers/HR lack of information about refugees Low interest to hire refugees – specially INGOsOver qualified for certain jobsEquivalence of Qualifications problemsSelf confidence and cross-cultural presentation

barriers

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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

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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

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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.

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