The world is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, and with it comes the chance to reconstruct how displaced communities access dignified, sustainable livelihoods. This new report, Digital Employment Pipelines for Refugees: A Systematic Review, explores a critical question: how can refugees engage in digital work and seize opportunities in the evolving digital economy?

Forcibly displaced people now number over 117 million globally, with 40% under the age of 18. This growing, youthful population holds untapped potential—especially as digital work reshapes global labour markets. In this report, we explore the ecosystems and enabling conditions that must be in place for refugees to thrive in digital work. We also dive into four promising digital employment pipelines—freelancing, full-time remote employment, digital entrepreneurship, and content creation—and examine the real-world pathways and barriers facing refugees who seek to earn a living online.

Why Digital Work Matters for Refugees

Refugees often face enormous challenges in accessing traditional employment. Legal restrictions, lack of documentation, limited local job markets, and discrimination can hinder their economic participation. Digital work, however, offers something different: location independence, flexibility, and access to global job markets.

Freelancing platforms, remote jobs, online businesses, and content creation allow refugee talent to engage in paid work using skills that can be self-taught or acquired informally. For host countries facing skills shortages—particularly in tech—this presents a win-win scenario.

Yet the promise of digital work remains unrealized for many. Why? Because success in the digital economy is not just about skills—it’s about systems.

Our research identifies two essential components that determine whether a refugee can participate in digital work:

Enabling Conditions – These include access to electricity, affordable internet, appropriate devices, secure payment systems, and valid documentation. Many refugees live in contexts where even basic infrastructure is out of reach—94% of displaced people in camps, for example, lack meaningful access to electricity.

Employability Factors – Skills matter, of course—but not just technical skills. Digital literacy, language proficiency, soft skills, and personal attributes like resilience and motivation all shape employability. Work experience and portfolios are often needed to win gigs on freelance platforms, but refugees rarely have these when starting out.

Without both conditions, digital livelihoods remain out of reach. That’s where intermediary organizations play a role.

From NGOs and social enterprises to private sector players and digital platforms, intermediary actors are stepping in to bridge the divide. Whether it’s providing training and mentorship, helping refugees navigate ID verification, supplying devices and data, or advocating for inclusive platform policies, these actors are key to making digital work viable.

Case studies in the report highlight impactful collaborations. Na’amal, for example, has partnered with platforms like Appen to support the onboarding of refugee freelancers on the platform. They partner with GiveInternet to support with laptops and data bundles. Desert Freelancing Agency, a refugee-led organization operating in Dadaab, Nairobi, and Mogadishu, provides digital services and training. 

At the same time, community-based hubs and collectives—like Dadaab Collective and Learning Lions—are providing co-working spaces and mentorship in camp settings, even though connectivity and availability still limit their full potential.

Digital employment is not one-size-fits-all. Our country case studies from Kenya, Uganda, and Colombia show how policy environments, infrastructure, and local attitudes influence refugee access to digital work.

A Call to Action

This report is not just an academic exercise—it’s a practical roadmap for action. We offer targeted recommendations for:

Governments: Simplify work authorization processes, invest in digital infrastructure, and create inclusive digital economy policies.

NGOs and training providers: Go beyond basic digital skills—focus on portfolios, job-readiness, mentorship, and soft skills.

Digital platforms: Design more inclusive onboarding processes, accept alternative forms of ID, and lower entry barriers for newcomers.

Funders and donors: Support long-term, ecosystem-level investments rather than one-off training programmes.

If we’re serious about inclusion, we must shift from seeing refugees as passive recipients of aid to active participants in the global economy. Digital work is not a silver bullet, but with the right systems and support, it can be a powerful tool for economic empowerment, self-reliance, and dignity.

Explore the full report and the summary handbook and join us in reimagining refugee livelihoods for the digital age.