Everyone forced to flee or at risk of displacement has the right to live with dignity and respect. We act during and after emergencies, focusing on those most affected – refugees, internally displaced people, and communities living in unsafe or hard-to-reach areas. As a rights-based organisation, we are guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, independence, and impartiality. Through our programmes, we provide urgent relief while also supporting long-term solutions. We work closely with communities, recognising their strengths and tailoring our support to different needs, including those based on age, gender, disability, or other factors. 

Estonian Refugee Council

Emergency response

We provide timely, effective and need-based assistance to people who have had to leave their homes or have been otherwise affected by armed conflicts or natural disasters. We support vulnerable people in frontline, conflict-affected, and hard-to-reach areas.
Estonian Refugee Council

Economic recovery

We support displaced and crisis-affected people in rebuilding their livelihoods and securing sustainable incomes by helping them enter the labour market, start small businesses, and establish agricultural activities. We are focused on sustainable solutions so that participants can achieve self-sufficiency and secure a stable income for themselves and their families after the programme concludes.
ERC

Protection and empowerment

We support the adaptation of crisis-affected people through counselling, community activities, and mental health support. Additionally, we systematically advocate for the rights of refugees and raise awareness among local communities about the issues related to forced migration. Our programmes are designed to empower crisis-affected communities, helping them feel safe and fostering inclusion and integration.

At the heart of our work is a simple truth: a refugee is an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation. Refugees are people whose lives have been disrupted by conflict or disaster, yet they continue to dream, hope, and care for their loved ones just like anyone else. Displacement does not define who they are; it is a circumstance they face. We stand with them, recognising their strength and resilience, and work to ensure they have the support and opportunities needed to rebuild their lives with dignity.

Our vision

We envision a world where people displaced or at risk of being displaced by conflict or disaster can live with dignity.

Our mission

We stand up for the rights and well-being of people suffering from acute and protracted crises through our humanitarian response, economic recovery, protection and community empowerment initiatives.

Affiliations

Estonian Refugee Council has been certified as an organisation following the humanitarian principles and project management standards and has signed the Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) with the European Union. Additionally, ERC is a strategic partner to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the provision of humanitarian assistance.

Estonian Refugee Council is a member of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance (ALNAP), the Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organisations, the Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation (AKÜ), and the Roundtable of Estonian Refugee Organisations.

Donors

Partners

Documents