In 2022, Yuri Milner (author of Eureka Manifesto) and his wife Julia launched a non-profit initiative in response to the global refugee crisis. Powered by funding from the Milners' Breakthrough Foundation, Tech For Refugees supports refugee relief efforts through partnerships with major technology companies.

The Milners established the Breakthrough Foundation in 2012 to follow through on their Giving Pledge. The Breakthrough Foundation also funds the Breakthrough Prize, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, and the Breakthrough Initiatives.

Tech For Refugees funds the philanthropic initiatives of leading tech organizations like Airbnb, Flexport, and Spotify. These companies are leveraging their networks and expertise to make a difference in the lives of refugees from Ukraine and other parts of the world.

The Global Refugee Crisis

The world is experiencing an unprecedented refugee crisis - the largest since the Second World War. The number of people fleeing their homes globally has doubled since 1990. Over the last 10 years, that number has grown annually.

The United Nations (UN) Refugee Agency reports that, as of 2022, there were 100 million displaced people worldwide. Of those 100 million, 27 million are refugees seeking asylum in foreign countries. The UN estimates that 41% of these refugees are children. Amnesty International suggests this figure is even higher.

In 2022, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released their Global Trends report. This report revealed that, over 2021, the number of people displaced due to persecution, war, and other disasters increased by more than 10%.

Countries with developing economies are hosting more than 80% of all refugees. This high intake of displaced populations can strain many of these countries' resources. Another recent UNHCR report found that two-thirds of refugees live in poverty.

Factors Impacting the Crisis

According to Tech For Refugees, one of the primary causes of rising refugee numbers is an increase in wars and violent conflict throughout the world. Even before the war in Ukraine, research by the World Bank suggested that 23 countries saw medium or high-intensity conflicts in 2021.

Other factors contributing to the global refugee crisis include the Covid-19 pandemic, global food shortages, economic upheaval, and climate change.

Tech For Refugees is focusing efforts on three of the countries that are facing the worst disruption: Ukraine, Pakistan, and the Horn of Africa. The non-profit organization intends to expand its aid globally as more tech partners join the initiative.

The Far-Reaching Implications

People forced to flee their homes and leave their friends and family behind often experience immense distress and trauma. Alongside the devastating personal loss, Tech For Refugees recognizes that the world's scale of displacement represents a significant tragedy and loss of potential for humanity.

Mass displacement can have far-reaching effects on education, child development, careers, societies, and cultures. Millions of people whose knowledge and innovation could otherwise help their local, national, and global communities flourish find their lives thrown into chaos.

Tech For Refugees' Co-Founder Milner explains that helping refugees rebuild their lives can help us build our civilization.

How Technology Can Help

Technology can play a vital role in assisting refugees and improving their quality of life during times of crisis.

A UNHCR report emphasizes that technology can empower refugees. Along with reliable electricity and internet services, the report lists access to smartphones and affordable data plans as fundamentally important issues.

Beyond access to basic connectivity and communications, technology can have a positive impact on multiple areas, including:

  • Employment and education.

  • Fundraising.

  • Logistics for delivering resources.

  • Housing networks.

  • Entertainment.

Tech For Refugees' Partners and Programs

Tech For Refugees works with leading tech companies to provide shelter, provisions, and comfort to refugees worldwide. The following organizations currently participate in the initiative:

  • Airbnb.org - A non-profit organization, Airbnb.org facilitates temporary, zero-charge stays for people during times of crisis. The organization operates independently and leverages a network of resources to help provide accommodation for refugees.

  • Flexport.org - The impact arm of the supply chain management company Flexport, Flexport.org works with international aid agencies to deliver relief supplies wherever they're needed.

  • Spotify - As the world's most popular audio streaming subscription service, Spotify recognizes the power of music to comfort, inspire, and bring communities together, especially in times of need. Working with Tech For Refugees, Spotify has allowed Ukrainian refugees around the world to access its services.

  • Welcome.US - Co-chaired by four former U.S. presidents and first ladies, Welcome.US unites and empowers U.S. citizens who want to support those seeking refuge and looking to start new lives in the U.S.

  • The International Rescue Committee (IRC) - Founded in 1933 at the call of scientist and refugee Albert Einstein, the IRC helps people survive, recover, and rebuild their lives after conflict and disaster.

Tech For Refugees is also seeking new technology partners who can help increase the global scope, efficiency, and diversity of the initiative's humanitarian operations.

Tech for Refugee Programs

Tech For Refugees operates multiple programs with its partners to address refugee crises around the world.

  • Airbnb, Flexport, Spotify Ukraine program - Tech for Refugees partners with Airbnb.org, Flexport.org, and Spotify to provide hosting and shelter, deliveries and logistics, and entertainment to Ukrainian refugees.

  • Welcome.US Ukraine program - Tech For Refugees has contributed to the launch of Welcome Connect, a user-friendly platform from Welcome.US. Welcome Connect offers a safe, streamlined way for U.S. citizens to connect with beneficiaries and help displaced Ukrainians seeking sponsorship.

  • Flexport Ukraine program - With funding from Tech For Refugees, Flexport.org has coordinated hundreds of aid shipments to six countries hosting Ukrainian refugees. These deliveries have provided relief for over five million people.

  • Flexport Pakistan program - The initiative provides funding to Flexport.org to deliver supplies to internally displaced people and refugees in Pakistan.

  • Flexport Horn of Africa program - Tech For Refugees also supports Flexport.org's Horn of Africa programs, which deliver food and other resources to populations displaced by famine.

  • International Rescue Committee program - This program represents Tech For Refugees' multi-year commitment to support the humanitarian efforts of the IRC.

So far, Tech For Refugees has committed $100 million toward programs for refugees from the war in Ukraine and other efforts around the world.

The initiative hopes to build further partnerships with technology companies and non-profits to continue efforts to help refugees everywhere.

About Yuri Milner

Yuri Milner is the founder of leading technology investor DST Global. He is also a science philanthropist and the author of the short book Eureka Manifesto.

In 2012, the Milners joined Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates' Giving Pledge. Their Giving Pledge included a commitment to donate the majority of their wealth to mainly scientific causes. To that end, they established the Breakthrough Foundation.

While the Milners' Giving Pledge has led to significant philanthropic contributions to science, the couple also donates to humanitarian causes.

The Breakthrough Prize and the Breakthrough Junior Challenge

The Breakthrough Foundation helps sponsor the Breakthrough Prize and the Breakthrough Junior Challenge. Known as the "Oscars of Science," the Breakthrough Prize celebrates scientists who have made significant advances in their fields.

Established in 2015, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge is a global competition that asks high-school students to create short, creative videos about complex scientific and mathematical ideas.

The Breakthrough Initiatives and Eureka Manifesto

In 2015, Milner and Stephen Hawking announced the launch of a suite of space science programs: the Breakthrough Initiatives. The Breakthrough Initiatives focus on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and are developing engineering solutions for interstellar travel.

In 2021, Milner wrote Eureka Manifesto: the Mission for our Civilization.In the book, Milner argues that humanity needs a shared mission to survive and thrive for future generations. Eureka Manifesto suggests this mission must revolve around the exploration and understanding of the Universe.