A Digital Odyssey: The bumpy road to digital livelihoods for forcibly displaced people
UNHCR believes digital technology is one of the most important vehicles for the economic empowerment and self-reliance of refugees â and its significance is only set to increase. However, while the global digital economy has the potential to drive positive change and allow forcibly displaced people to access meaningful livelihoods, it can also pose serious challenges and potential risks.
As part of the PROSPECTS Partnership Project on the Promotion, Inclusion and Protection of Refugees in the Gig Economy, with the International Labour Organization, we conducted a series of initial research initiatives and workshops to understand the challenges facing refugees who are working to access digital livelihoods. The stories in these comics were inspired by information gathered during these activities. While the characters and stories do not represent real individuals or experiences, this resource is designed to convey some of the risks and challenges commonly encountered by forcibly displaced and stateless people as they try to access online work.