For over 20 years, Palladium has committed 1.5% of its profit before tax to its global giving platform, Let’s Make it Possible. Through its partnership with the Kyeema Foundation, Palladium funds humanitarian relief efforts, supports employee-nominated community projects, and runs the annual Palladium Challenge Fund—a competition designed to generate innovative solutions to pressing global problems.

Each year, the Challenge Fund invites ideas from across Palladium’s global network to address critical challenges.

Jobs for Refugee Returnees

The 2024 theme, When it’s Time to Rebuild: Jobs for Refugee Returnees, recognized that conflict leaves unimaginable destruction in its wake, disrupting lives and economies. The work to rebuild requires more than funding; it requires people with passion, resilience, and skills who can drive the recovery. With millions of refugees returning to their home countries after years of displacement, sustainable job creation and economic empowerment are more urgent than ever.

"Providing job opportunities to refugees is crucial not just for their own survival, but for the long-term stability of the countries they return to," explains Palladium co-CEO, Sinéad Magill. "Economic empowerment allows displaced individuals to rebuild their lives, contribute to their communities, and play an active role in recovery efforts."

Through this Challenge Fund, Palladium looked to unlock innovative solutions that connect refugees as a workforce with the post-conflict needs of their home countries.

The response to the Challenge was overwhelming. A panel of Palladium experts from diverse regions and backgrounds carefully reviewed the proposals, ultimately selecting four groundbreaking initiatives for funding. These winning projects tackle unique barriers faced by refugee returnees, empowering them with skills, opportunities, and support.

Meet the 2024 Challenge Fund Winners

Alsama Project, Lebanon: High-School Equivalent Certification for Refugee Youth

In Lebanon, many refugee youth face significant obstacles to accessing education. The Alsama Project aims to address this issue by launching a high-school equivalent certification program. This certification will allow out-of-school refugee youth to demonstrate their academic potential and gain access to higher education and employment opportunities. Partnering with Cambridge University, the project will finalize and pilot the certification, with a launch planned for 2026. With Palladium’s support, this initiative will bring new opportunities to Lebanon’s displaced youth, providing a critical pathway to education and economic stability.

Alight, Ukraine: InviYOUth: Mental Health and Skills for Resilience

The war in Ukraine has displaced millions of young people, leaving them struggling with trauma and uncertainty. Working in the Kharkiv region, Alight Ukraine’s InviYOUth project will deploy a combination of mental health services, social cohesion activities, and skill-building programs to help youth develop resilience, soft skills, and a renewed sense of purpose as they enter the workforce. By empowering young people to rebuild their lives, this initiative will not only help individuals but also contribute to the broader recovery efforts in Ukraine.

BodEr Tech, Kenya: BodEr Ride-Hailing App for Refugee Employment

BodEr Tech is leveraging technology to create jobs for refugees in Nairobi’s fast-growing transportation sector. The startup is developing a ride-hailing and logistics app, providing refugee drivers with stable employment opportunities. BodEr Tech is committed to promoting sustainability by incorporating electric bikes into the service, reducing carbon emissions while creating green jobs. The app will serve as both an employment solution and a means to enhance sustainability in urban mobility. This project exemplifies how technology can open new doors for refugees, while also contributing to cleaner, greener cities.

Enabled Children Initiative, Afghanistan: Vocational Training and Employment for Afghan Returnee Youth with Disabilities

In Afghanistan, young people with disabilities often face discrimination and limited job opportunities. The Enabled Children Initiative breaks down these barriers by providing vocational training and supported work placements for Afghan returnee youth with disabilities. Beyond employment, the project aims to change societal attitudes towards disability by challenging stigma and fostering inclusivity in the workplace and community.

Driving Long-Term Change

These four projects reflect the diversity of challenges refugee returnees face, but they share a common goal: creating sustainable job opportunities and economic empowerment.

Whether through education, mental health support, vocational training, or job creation, each project has the potential to not only address immediate employment needs but also catalyse long-term social transformation in post-conflict countries.

“Piloting innovative solutions that drive sustainable, long-term impact is at the heart of Palladium’s work,” says Magill. “We are proud to support these projects and look forward to seeing how they will help empower refugee returnees and contribute to rebuilding post-conflict economies and communities.”

Stay Tuned for More Updates

We will continue to share updates on these projects and their impact. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2025 Palladium Challenge Fund and the next wave of game-changing ideas.