Life-changing results

Our model is win-win: for the global economy, for local businesses and communities, and for refugees themselves.

Opening global pathways

As a result of our advocacy, several countries including Australia, Canada and the UK have launched displaced talent visa programmes in recent years. Together, these programmes will provide safe migration pathways for thousands of refugees.

We are now focused on expanding our model worldwide. We’re working with UNHCR and other partners to engage refugees in Latin America and Asia, as well as the Middle East. We’ve established a presence in the United States, and we’re working with IOM, Fragomen, and others on Displaced Talent for Europe (DT4E); an EU-funded pilot matching displaced people in Jordan and Lebanon with employers in Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, and the UK.

Our work has contributed to concrete commitments in the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact on Migration to open up labour mobility pathways for refugees. We are a founding member of the Global Taskforce on Refugee Labour Mobility, chaired by the Canadian Government.

 

Video: TBB alumni from around the world share their experiences of labour mobility.

 

Impact in numbers

Last updated: March 2026

2,518

People who secured a path to safety (candidates and family members)

1,009

Candidates who
secured a job offer

651

People who relocated

388

Employers who have hired

 

Destination countries

 

Host countries of candidates pre-relocation

 

Nationalities of candidates

 

Hiring industries

 

Gender of candidates with job offers

 

Retention rate of candidates one year after relocating

93%

TBB candidate survey results: Six months after relocation

 

90%

% of candidates who feel welcome in their community

 

$430

Average amount in USD sent home per month

84%

% of candidates satisfied with their quality of life after moving

23%

% who have a higher salary and/or have been promoted one year after arrival

84%

% of TBB candidates sending remittances to support family abroad

Employer survey results: Six months after candidates relocate

97%

% of employers who rate the candidate(s) technical skill level as meeting their role requirements

97%

% of employers who rate the candidate(s) soft skill level as meeting their role requirements

95%

How likely are you/your organization to recruit displaced talent through TBB and partners in the future?

98%

How likely are you to recommend working with TBB and partners to other employers?

Latest outcomes

Recognition from the sector

Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility

TBB is proud to be a founding member of the Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility (GTF), along with the governments of Canada and Australia, UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration, the International Chamber of Commerce, Fragomen, and RefugePoint. The GTF was launched in April 2022 and announced Canada as its inaugural chair. [Watch the video]

To support the expansion of labour mobility pathways, the Task Force will engage and share information and technical advice with countries interested in adopting such schemes, advocate for hiring refugees in the private sector and through industry and sector-specific initiatives, and conduct research and explore policy solutions to challenges that stand in the way of scaling these initiatives.

 
Mohammed+and+Trudeau.jpg

Pictured: Mohammed (second from left), a Software Engineer and Syrian refugee, meets the Canadian Prime Minister (centre) at Bonfire HQ in Canada. “I’m very optimistic for my new life”, said Mohammed. “From now, I can start building my future and enhance my skills and become a productive person in Canadian society.”

 

Success stories

Global Evaluation (2020)

TBB has demonstrated the viability of an employer-led labour mobility solution to displacement. Our model has had a transformational impact on the lives of the refugees involved in the pilot phase and has also generated a range of complementary positive benefits for employers, destination country economies and refugees still living in displacement.