Refugee aid shifts from handouts to long-term jobs and social programs.

The World Bank now says that giving refugees cash for immediate needs is less effective than helping them find jobs and integrate into social systems. This means aid programs will likely focus more on skills training and social services, rather than just emergency relief.

For decades, the default approach to refugees was short-term emergency aid. This paper argues that this model is less effective than investing in long-term inclusion. It suggests that countries hosting refugees will need to shift their planning and funding towards social protection systems that enable refugees to work and contribute, rather than relying solely on humanitarian assistance. This could unlock new economic activity in host countries and provide more stable futures for displaced populations.