Guidelines Livelihoods in migration and displacement contexts

Migrants and displaced populations are often ill-protected from economic shocks and are therefore particularly vulnerable in crisis, as with the COVID19 pandemic.

The aim of these guidelines is to support Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) staff, volunteers, and technical practitioners working in different contexts of migration and displacement to design, review and organise livelihood interventions.

The guidelines include potential impacts on the livelihoods assets of migrants and displaced persons, response options, cross-cutting issues (Targeting and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA), Protection, gender and inclusion (PGI), and Social cohesion) and cases examples.

This guidance is informed by years of lessons learned from the RCRC Movement’s work in livelihoods support in different humanitarian settings, yet it provides only a brief insight into what is being done at the country/ National Society (NS) level. For further understanding, references to key resources are included throughout the document. 

These guidelines are available in English, French and Spanish. 

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Saving groups. Key activity for returnees in Ethiopia

This case study provides an example of how Saving Groups have become one of the key project activities for returnees' economic and social reintegration, promoting economic, social and cultural solidarity among communities. Participating in a saving group has permitted returnees to improve their financial inclusion –having access to savings, credit and micro-insurance- and diversify and strengthen their businesses. Saving groups also improve connectedness and social cohesion among host communities and returnees.

Saving Groups is one of the livelihood components of the integrated project ‘Assistance and Resilience to vulnerable returnees and their communities in Ethiopia’ (ARV-RC), implemented by the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) with the support of the Danish Red Cross (DRC) Regional Migration Program.
The project focuses on supporting vulnerable returnees' reintegration at individual and community levels. Assistance includes providing essential items on arrival, access to livelihood opportunities and mental and psychosocial support.

Saving Groups have been launched in two regions, Amhara and Oromia, in the remote kebeles of Debark and Shirka, offering returnees the possibility to join a self-help group that provides members with access to savings credit and a social network of mutual help.

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