Markus Kainradl
Senior Protection Assistant
Duty Station: Vienna, Austria
“I am certain that two brilliant minds can accomplish much more than twice of what a single mind could. How could I not be interested in learning about the difficulties of my colleagues around the globe and in contributing to the development of innovative strategies?”
Markus is originally from Austria and has been working with resettlement and refugee protection in Vienna for several years. He sees innovation as more than the mere introduction of new ideas, but rather a change of culture and a better understanding of existing practices.
Project: Asylum Support Map
Markus is currently working with Mariann Urban on the Asyulm Support Map. In 2013, approximately 17,000 persons applied for international protection in Austria, seeking not only protection status, but also other forms of support. Several local non-profit initiatives have developed in order to respond to their needs, but information on them is still limited, and may not reach arriving refugees and asylum seekers. The project aims to support the creation of a user-friendly interactive map outlining all available support services offered in Austria. Participating organizations will be invited to feature the Asylum Support Map on their social media platforms and website, enabling a greater exchange of information between organizations and refugee/asylum seeker communities.
Project: PUSH (Promotional Items for UNHCR)
This initiative aims to satisfy UNHCR’s need for promotional material by capitalizing on the entrepreneurial abilities and craftsmanship of refugees around the world. Refugee crafts will become part of the UNHCR production process – through UNHCR or partner-supported self-reliance hubs, through which suitable items could be produced and fairly traded. This project not only empowers vulnerable groups, but also promotes livelihoods and self-reliance.