-
Livelihood
Through Livelihoods programmes, IOM aims to engage with beneficiaries to strengthen their capacities of achieving self-reliance, economic recovery and employment. In fragile and crisis settings, where the risk of instability is very high, the focus on livelihoods is an important part of IOM’s efforts towards community stabilization as well as long-term transition and recovery.
IOM Iran is supporting transition initiatives aiming to increase the ability of migrants and host communities to access employment and livelihoods skills, with a particular focus on Afghan migrants. IOM aims to offer vocational training to migrants, including refugees, as well as supporting short-term employment schemes for vulnerable members of both host and displaced communities.
Moreover, IOM is implementing targeted interventions such as supporting job creation through starting up or expanding micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as facilitating the enrollment of beneficiaries in technical trainings and skills development programmes.
- Objectives
-
Livelihoods projects aim both to improve beneficiaries’ prospects in the short term, providing access to employment skills and to sustainable jobs, and to enhance their access to durable solutions and complementary pathways, while also fostering community resilience and self-reliance.
Outcomes from livelihoods and employment initiatives often align with broader objectives such as addressing instability, fostering resilience, promoting social cohesion, supporting recovery, and establishing foundations for peace and sustainable development.
- Areas of Intervention
-
IOM is focusing on a series of interventions targeting different segments of the communities and economic sectors:
-
Vocational skills development trainings and start-up packages
IOM is organizing technical and vocational trainings for vulnerable Afghans and host community members in Iran, with the aim of improving access to employment and sustainable livelihoods. Additionally, IOM provides start-up packages and business development support to facilitate economic development through the establishment, stabilization, and expansion of microenterprises. These activities represent a tailored response for individuals aimed at improving people's skills, encouraging entrepreneurship, generating employment opportunities, and supporting rural economic recovery.
-
Income generating activities
The unit is supporting the creation and expansion of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Iran, notably through skills development and in-kind support. These projects include providing equipment to structured workplaces, so that beneficiaries with specific skill sets can be employed in the production of goods, to be sold through market channels. IGWs are designed to be financially self-sustaining beyond IOM’s support while catering to the capacities and availability of the participants.
As part of its livelihood activities, IOM Iran equipped a tailoring workshop in Torbat-e-Jam settlement with the primary objective of creating sustainable income opportunities for Afghan migrants residing in the settlement.
Through creating 85 new jobs so far for Afghan women in vulnerable situations, IOM is supporting approximately 425 residents of the settlement, by increasing their ability to be self-reliant and less dependent on humanitarian aid. Once at full capacity, the workshop will generate a total of 100 job opportunities. The programme is also offering skills development to empower individuals with pre-existing basic skills and enhance their abilities to access livelihoods.
-
Cash-for-work activities
IOM is organizing Cash for Work (CfW) projects as a short-term intervention targeting the most vulnerable individuals, who have limited skills with temporary employment opportunities. The main aim of CfW is cash provision to vulnerable individuals through short-term work. CfW activities support the community with labor force mainly to maintain and rehabilitate public facilities and properties or install key community assets.
-