• Egypt currently hosts around 9 million migrants and forcibly displaced persons (FDPs). As of August 2025, there are 1,020,802 refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR.

• High youth unemployment rates, a growing informal working sector and soaring inflation rates leave many young people without jobs or employed in low-paying precarious jobs with no legal protection. FDPs are especially vulnerable due to legal and social barriers restricting access to basic services and income opportunities.

• Out of school children and unemployed youth face protection risks, such as exploitation, unsafe migration, recruitment by violent gangs, and other negative coping mechanisms.

• Incidents of social tension and physical violence have been increasing in neighborhoods with high concentrations of FDPs, leading to a sense of fear and insecurity among FDPs, exacerbated by their limited access to police and justice system.

Social integration of FDPs is hindered by cultural barriers, discrimination and xenophobia.

Directly Beneficiaries:

25’900 vulnerable youth (50% women, 50% FDPs) of the following age groups: 10-24 (UNICEF) and 18-35 (ILO).

127 staff members from YCs Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs)

Indirect beneficiaries:

70’000 vulnerable youth

More than 200 Staff members from YCs, CSOs, and CBOs.

Targeted governorates: Greater Cairo (Cairo, Giza and Qalubiya governorates), Alexandria, Damietta, Kafr El-Sheikh, Sharqia, Daqahlia and Assiut

Outcome 1: Migrants, FDPs and Egyptian youth in targeted communities have enhanced their employability and gained access to livelihoods opportunities and career prospects

Outcome 2: Migrants, FDPs and Egyptian youth have access to inclusive and gender responsive services that foster social cohesion and resilience

Expected results:  

1.1: Service providers in targeted communities have enhanced skills in delivering employability programs and providing inclusive services to young migrants, FDPs, and Egyptians4, that protect their rights.

2.1: Service providers in youth centres and civil society organizations have improved ability to provide safe, inclusive and gender-responsive spaces and/or services, promoting social cohesion and youth engagement among forcibly displaced youth and host communities.

2.2: Stakeholders' programs have strengthened protection, inclusion, and referral mechanisms to safeguard and prevent Gender Based Violence (GBV) among migrants, forcibly displaced persons, and Egyptians’ youth.

2.3: Young migrants, forcibly displaced, and Egyptian girls and women have improved capacities to make decisions about their lives, including their health, education, careers and personal safety.

3.1: Employers have enhanced knowledge and opportunities to provide inclusive and decent work for beneficiaries.

3.2: Government actors have enhanced access to evidence-based knowledge products and toolkits feeding into broader advocacy for the integration of beneficiaries in the Egyptian labour market and essential services.

Results from previous phases:  

Over 5000 youth received employment services (81% women, 60% migrants and FDPs) and 152,550 youth received in-demand job market skills (52% women, 20% migrants and FDPs).

The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) brought together youth, UNICEF, ILO and Ministry of Youth and Sport (MOYS) staff to identify collective priority areas.

2,874 youth (53% migrants and FDPs, 67% women) found work.

234 individuals (4 nationalities) were capacitated on child protection.

74 MoYS staff from 30 Youth Centers (YCs) were trained on gender awareness, social inclusion and disability-friendly practices.

8,953 Sudanese children (4,432 girls and 4,521 boys) accessed specialized child protection services (psycho-social support, cash support, and referrals for health, legal, and education services).

Representation from MOYS, Ministry of Labor (MOL) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) gained awareness on decent work for FDPs based on international legal frameworks.

Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) shared their good practices on legally extending apprenticeships to FDPs, advocating for other stakeholders to be more inclusive.

The Peer-to-Peer Model, represented by 1,500 youth ambassadors within Meshwary, has significantly strengthened community capacity.

Key learning: Targeted interventions such as mini employment fairs yield better results than large-scale generic interventions as they allow for addressing specific needs of target groups.