The adoption of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development in 2015 represents a renewed commitment in world partnership for tackling persistent challenges faced by humanity, involving developed and developing countries alike; therefore, all the objectives and goals of this instrument benefit society as a whole, while seeking to realize Human Rights of all because of their integrated and indivisible nature that balances the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental. Within this framework, there has been recognized the need of international cooperation to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of migrants regardless of migration status, of refugees and of displaced persons as well as their positive contribution for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

This historic inclusion represents a response to large flows in different parts of the world, which have also motivated the adoption of the New York Declaration in 2016, by requiring two collaborative instruments – a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, and a global compact on refugees; both adopted in 2018 emphasize the issue of socioeconomic integration of migrants and refugees, including through support to self-employment and entrepreneurship. They are based on the premise that migrants and refugees can contribute positively to the development of communities back at home or in their new places of residence, provided that their skills, capabilities and entrepreneurial spirit – often acquired in migration – are given sufficient support and recognition.

Following these developments and to respond to a growing policy need for a common approach to promoting the socioeconomic inclusion of migrants and refugees that recognizes their contribution to development, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) have brought together their technical expertise and practical knowledge to collaboratively developed a Policy Guide on Entrepreneurship for Migrants and Refugees, published in 2018. In order to complement this endeavour, UNCTAD, UNCHR and OIM have joined efforts with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to develop the e-learning course Entrepreneurship for Migrants and Refugees.