Currently, more than 117 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced from their homes. Of them, over 43.4 million are classified as refugees. Forced to flee due to violence, war, or persecution, many lack adequate support and face an uncertain future. In many host countries, including those with open borders, refugees face policies and practices that hinder their mobility and access to basic services and employment. The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted these vulnerable populations and the communities that welcome them, leading to lost livelihoods and education as well as food insecurity.
Although the circumstances that lead to displacement are often traumatic and tragic, refugees themselves have tremendous resilience and perseverance. They contribute economically and socially to the communities that welcome them, becoming advocates for their needs and the solutions required to address them.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Refugees Initiative works with a range of partners to support solutions to some of the toughest challenges facing refugees and migrants, their families, and the communities that host them. Our strategic two-generation approach helps refugee children, their families and caregivers thrive, forging a pathway to sustainable positive change. Funding refugee-led organizations and championing the inclusion of refugee voices in the policy and decision-making processes that will impact their lives is central to our commitment.
Our vision is to improve the lives and livelihoods of refugee families and the communities hosting them. We invest in children’s healthy development and expand access to economic opportunities for parents and caregivers in Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
Invest in partners with a two-generation approach focused on integrated early childhood development and livelihood programs that recognize the interconnection between children and their caregivers’ welfare.
Strengthen relationships across governments, municipalities, and local and refugee-led organizations.
Contribute to global research and programming to drive innovative, sustainable and locally-led initiatives and policies.
Champion the voices of refugees to advance effective and scalable solutions.
Continuously refine our advocacy strategy and learning agenda and build partnerships at local, regional and global levels.
The two-generation approach ensures that refugee and migrant children receive the care they need for their healthy development. At the same time, parents and caregivers earn an income, contributing economically and socially to their host communities and fostering resilience and self-esteem. To date, over 3,000 young parents and caregivers have received employment services and support across Colombia, Ethiopia and Uganda.
Our grants do more than help meet the urgent needs of refugees and host communities. By investing in efforts to include refugees in decision-making opportunities that impact their lives, we address systemic challenges, charting a course to a more equitable and just future for all.
Prioritizing funding for refugee-led organizations has always been an integral part of our strategy. In 2022, we provided 46% of all the trackable humanitarian and development funding allocated to refugee-led organizations.
S25 Goals – the initiative set the following impact goals for S25 (results expected in November 2026):
In partnership with our grantees, the Hilton Foundation Refugees Initiative advances refugee inclusion and integration in Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia and Uganda.
