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)
7/18/2013 2
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)
7/18/2013 3
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
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
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 & 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
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