Aviation Takes Flight: ASKY Forges Landmark UNHCR Deal to Empower Refugees in West Africa

A landmark three-year agreement has been forged between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the pan-African carrier ASKY, aiming to provide critical aviation training, job opportunities, and supply-chain contracts to refugees across West and Central Africa. This innovative partnership is envisioned by both parties as a potential blueprint for future private-sector engagement on the African continent, focusing on practical outcomes rather than mere symbolism.

Initially, the collaboration will encompass Senegal, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, and Côte d'Ivoire. It leverages ASKY's extensive regional network and technical expertise, alongside UNHCR's core protection mandate, to create genuine pathways into the labor market for individuals whose displacement has tragically extended over many years. The urgency for such initiatives is profound; as of September 2026, the region was home to more than four million refugees and asylum-seekers, with women and children constituting a significant 80 percent of this population. Furthermore, nearly 751,000 individuals were identified as having specific protection needs, including vulnerable women, children, and persons with disabilities.

Given these statistics, the program deliberately prioritizes women and girls, who frequently encounter more formidable obstacles to accessing education, skills training, and dignified employment opportunities. The initial phase of the partnership will concentrate on technical and vocational training, scholarship programs, internships, and direct employment within the aviation sector itself. ASKY has committed to considering qualified refugees for openings across its existing training programs, internship schemes, and recruitment processes, provided they meet the airline's standard criteria.

Beyond direct employment, the agreement also seeks to integrate refugee-owned enterprises into ASKY's supply chain. Particular attention will be given to refugee-led artisan businesses, fostering economic self-sufficiency. Future stages of the partnership are expected to broaden the scope to include entrepreneurship support and the development of agricultural value chains. Lomé, Togo, where ASKY's headquarters are located, is currently under consideration to become a central training hub for the initiative.

Additional components of the program are designed to expand livelihood opportunities in Ghana, facilitate connections between refugee-led businesses and markets in Senegal, and support crucial family reunification and voluntary return movements, particularly within Côte d'Ivoire. Discussions are also underway regarding the potential inclusion of humanitarian transport arrangements as part of the eventual comprehensive agreement.

Abdouraouf Gnon Konde, UNHCR Regional Director for West and Central Africa, underscored the partnership's focus on human dignity. He articulated that for displacement situations lasting years, access to skills, markets, and decent work becomes fundamental to restoring individuals' choice and dignity. UNHCR's overarching ambition is to assist half of all refugees in protracted situations across the region to transition from aid dependency to self-reliance by the year 2035. Konde emphasized that collaborating with African businesses like ASKY transforms this ambition into tangible opportunities, especially for women and young people, while simultaneously bolstering host communities and their economies.

Esayas W. Hailu, ASKY Chief Executive Officer, framed the deal within the airline's broader commitment to African development. He stated, "As a pan-African airline, we see a direct link between our business and Africa's development," highlighting that refugees are already integral members of the communities ASKY serves. Hailu added, "Through this partnership, we want to connect their talent and enterprise with opportunities in aviation and encourage other African companies to integrate refugee inclusion into the way they do business."

This invitation to other operators is a crucial aspect for the travel trade to observe. This initiative represents UNHCR's inaugural partnership with a regional airline in West and Central Africa, and it is the first of its kind involving a regional carrier anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa. Should this model prove successful, various industry players, including hotel groups, ground handlers, tour operators, and destination management companies, may face similar discussions concerning inclusive hiring practices and supplier diversity. ASKY currently operates a fleet of 17 aircraft, serving 30 cities across 28 African countries. Its shareholders include prominent entities such as the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, the West African Development Bank, Ecobank Group, Ethiopian Airlines, and the Government of Togo. Enhancing intra-African connectivity and fostering tourism growth are already among its stated priorities. For an industry fundamentally built on movement, there is a clear logic in an airline assisting individuals who have been forcibly displaced in rebuilding their working lives. The sector faces genuine talent shortages, and this approach effectively addresses these needs while simultaneously fulfilling a vital humanitarian imperative.