OUR STORY
Bringing refugee
craftsmanship to
the world
The world’s refugee population contains a wealth of talented people whose skills and traditions have incredible creative potential. UNHCR started MADE51 to enable refugees to earn income through dignified work.
© UNHCR/Zannou Kpiti Firmin
Watch: The MADE51 Story
Every year, millions of people are forced to flee their homes to escape war, conflict, and persecution. They cannot return home.
Currently, 43.7 million people are living as refugees, while 72.1 million people are living in displacement within their own countries. Together, refugees and the forcibly displaced account for one in 67 people worldwide.
When people are forced to flee, they leave behind homes, communities and livelihoods. Often, they find themselves in precarious situations with no choice but to rely on humanitarian support.
It doesn’t have to be like this. Accessing opportunities to earn a living is one of the most effective ways people can rebuild their lives with dignity. MADE51 was established in 2018 by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to create these opportunities through the creative economy.
Why the creative economy?
Refugee communities worldwide include a multitude of artisans and craftspeople with incredible potential for creating beautiful products of exceptional quality. Given the opportunity, these are skills that refugees can use to regain their economic independence and sense of self-worth.
The artisan sector also offers high potential for impact: it is worth over USD $752.2BN and represents the second-largest source of employment in low- and middle-income countries, which is also where 70% of refugees are hosted.
The nature of artisan work, which is often part-time, is also particularly well suited for refugee women who shoulder domestic responsibilities that often prevent their engagement in full-time work, or who face cultural restrictions on other forms of employment.
Our goals
Uplifting refugee artisans through income, skills and linkages
Revealing refugees as talented, positive contributors
Building strong partnerships for economic inclusion
Introducing unique products to the marketplace
Keeping cultural traditions alive
Growing local ethical enterprises
© UNHCR/Jacques Nkinzingabo
Why is MADE51 needed?
Refugees face many constraints that limit their ability to sell their products to external markets. Legal restrictions, isolation, limited design knowledge, and a lack of access to basic business support services are major obstacles. As a resuIt, refugees are often left out of the global artisan economy.
Through MADE51’s unique ecosystem model, we connect all the steps to create market connections and sustainable livelihoods for the forcibly displaced.
About the brand
So, why the name? ‘MADE’ evokes the spirit of creation, and also forms an acronym: “Market Access, Design and Empowerment”. The ‘51’ refers to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the key legal document that outlines the rights of the displaced and the legal obligations of states to protect them, and which forms the basis of UNHCR’s work.
About the ecosystem
- Artisan Partners – Refugees with traditional craft skills who create the unique products in the MADE51 collection
- Local Social Enterprise Partners – Locally based businesses that provide refugees with training, production support and market expertise
- Strategic Partners – Institutions, organisations and corporations that help scale MADE51’s impact through funding, advocacy, and capacity-building
- Brand Collaborators – Global brands that integrate refugee-made components into their designs or co-create exclusive products with MADE51 artisans
Together, this network ensures that refugee artisans have the resources, support, and market access they need to thrive. By working across this ecosystem of partners, MADE51 provides a sustainable, market-based solution to help refugee artisans rebuild their livelihoods and connect with customers worldwide.
© UNHCR/Muhammad Rahim Mirza
About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution.
UNHCR leads international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people.
UNHCR’s vision is a world where every person forced to flee can build a better future.