In 2018, less than 3 percent of refugees went home. The vast majority struggle to get by in countries unable to meet their needs. Most relief efforts are focused on food, shelter and basic health care—but refugees also require education and livelihoods opportunities if they are to rebuild their lives. The IRC strives for “better aid” that delivers assistance more effectively, efficiently and sustainably.

The IRC's research shows that refugee women could generate up to $1.4 trillion to annual global GDP if employment and wage gaps were closed.

The Happy Families Program is a parenting and family skills intervention implemented with displaced Burmese families living on the Thai–Burmese border. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) and research partners from the Harvard School of Public Health and Duke University found that the intervention had a significant impact on parenting practices, family functioning, and child behavior.