On 26 November 2025, LERRN in partnership with the Global Academic Interdisciplinary Network (GAIN), hosted a webinar titled “UNHCR at 75: Challenges and Opportunities.” The webinar was moderated by Liliana Jubilut, co-chair of GAIN. The panel consisted of four speakers: Jeff Crisp, research associate at the Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford, Jean Marie Ishimwe, East Africa regional lead of Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT), Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, assistant high commissioner for protection at the UNHCR, and James Milner, LERRN’s project director. The distinguished panel was joined by 98 participants online from 22 countries across the world.

With people displaced worldwide, the global refugee regime is confronting an unprecedented level of complexity and scale in forced displacement. This magnitude—further compounded by budget cuts and the withdrawal of political and humanitarian commitments by major donor countries—has raised critical questions about the capacity of leading organizations to effectively respond to the needs of refugees, stateless persons, internally displaced persons, and other forcibly displaced populations. On the eve of UNHCR’s 75th anniversary, this webinar convened academics, civil society actors, and refugee leaders to reflect on the organization’s historical role and its future in the global refugee regime. Ahead of the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review in Geneva later this month, the panel discussed both the obstacles and opportunities facing UNHCR in the current political climate and offered suggestions for future action. The panelists collectively agreed that in order to adequately safeguard refugee protection in an increasingly turbulent world, stakeholders must work towards greater solidarity, inclusion, and multilateral collaboration that centers refugees’ lived experience and expertise.��

Menikdiwela opened the session by noting that has evolved over the past 75 years in response to the changing context and increasing complexity of forced migration. She outlined the agency’s expanded scope—now encompassing stateless persons and, in some cases, internally displaced people—and its three core pillars: international protection, durable solutions, and adherence to the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. She emphasized the need for national and international support that benefits both refugees and host communities, while highlighting five key challenges: the scale of mass displacement driven by protracted conflicts, a shrinking humanitarian space and the politicization of asylum, persistent funding gaps and staffing shortages, the growing complexity of displacement, and the accelerating global climate crisis. To address these challenges, Menikdiwela underscored the importance of reliable data, cross-sector and inter-agency collaboration, participatory research, and inclusive practices that amplify refugees’ expertise. She highlighted how partnerships with academia and refugee-led organizations (RLOs), along with localization and multidisciplinary approaches, can strengthen the global refugee regime’s effectiveness and legitimacy.

Reflecting on 75 years of leadership in emergency��response, protection, and the pursuit of durable solutions, Menikdiwela emphasized that UNHCR’s mandate remains as vital and relevant today as it was at its inception.

James Milner outlined several current challenges shaping discourse around the functioning of the global refugee regime and UNHCR’s mandate: a collapse in funding as traditional donors redirect resources toward defense rather than protection; rising political hostility to the asylum regime that undermines foundational refugee and human rights norms; and declining confidence in multilateralism. Despite this context, Milner expressed optimism, noting that the regime has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to adapt to geopolitical shifts. He reminded the audience that geopolitics have shaped UNHCR’s evolution since the early days of the Cold War. These transformations, he argued, have also created openings for stronger refugee-led responses, increased leadership from the Global South, and the emergence of new norms that may positively reform the regime. Looking ahead, Milner highlighted the importance of cooperation among like-minded actors and states, along with greater civil society participation—particularly by refugee-led organizations—as a pathway toward more effective co-governance within the regime. He underscored the value of innovative approaches and collective efforts aligned with the principles of the , including locally produced knowledge and equitable partnerships.

Drawing on his personal experience working in East Africa— a region that is both a host and a producer of displaced persons—where meaningful refugee participation is becoming an emerging norm, Ishimwe emphasized the need to restructure the system by placing refugee leadership at the core of the refugee regime. He argued that partners must move beyond tokenistic approaches to participation and instead ground their policies and programming in collective solidarity and genuine recognition of refugees as experts and innovators, rather than as burdens or aid-dependent populations. He noted that while East Africa is seeing a growing number of refugee-led organizations (RLOs), these groups often struggle for recognition and sustainable funding, as governments and institutions frequently limit their role to consultation rather than leadership. True progress, Ishimwe suggested, requires resetting the humanitarian system with new leadership; institutionalizing meaningful refugee participation at the center of the system beyond project-based engagement; and positioning refugees in executive roles to ensure that policies and programs are effective, just, and reflective of their needs, aspirations, and lived realities.

Jeff Crisp shifted the conversation to the role of academia in shaping UNHCR’s policies, programs, and practices, and examined the extent to which academic research influences the organization’s mandate. He noted that while independent research has helped shape UNHCR’s broader intellectual framework—informing policy agendas on issues such as repatriation, refugee mobility, and refugee-led organizations—its direct impact on UNHCR’s day-to-day policies and practices has been difficult to measure. Crisp suggested that some of these challenges stem from academics’ tendency to use inaccessible language, produce research in formats misaligned with policy needs, or propose studies at moments when they are not actionable. Academic work also sometimes overlooks localized knowledge or recommends solutions that do not align with current priorities or available resources. From the organizational side, Crisp observed that UNHCR’s engagement with academia has historically depended heavily on leadership support, including initiatives like the open-access working paper series and partnerships with research centers worldwide. However, he noted that this support has declined in recent years due to growing skepticism toward independent researchers and, at times, an unwillingness to hear critiques of the organization. He recommended revitalizing and strengthening these relationships through timely, innovative collaborations—rather than simply expanding tokenistic networks.

Q&A Discussion

During the Q&A session, panelists’ interventions sparked a vibrant discussion in response to questions submitted by the audience. With growing concern that the regime is facing its most profound crisis—and that the protection of refugee rights may be at risk—the panelists were asked to share their calls to action for global leaders and their vision for UNHCR’s future.

In response, Milner emphasized that no single actor can reform the regime without broad consensus and multisectoral collaboration; UNHCR relies on partnerships to fulfill its mandate, and the importance of collective action cannot be overstated. Crisp called for a reassessment of UNHCR’s scope and activities to ensure the organization prioritizes its core mandate of refugee protection. Ishimwe stressed the centrality of refugee participation and the need for a mindset shift toward a system accountable not only to donor countries but to refugees themselves. He added that while the system may not yet be prepared for refugees to lead, such a paradigm shift is essential for meaningful change.

In their concluding remarks, all panelists underscored the importance of centering lived experience and localized knowledge in policy and programming. They recommended leveraging new technologies to co-create knowledge with researchers who have lived experience of displacement, using prominent platforms to elevate the work of refugee researchers, allocating sustainable funding to RLOs, and—most importantly—expanding refugee participation beyond storytelling to genuine leadership and substantive influence in executive spaces, ensuring participation is meaningful rather than performative.

Watch the full webinar:

Relevant Content

On the 12th of September 2025, a panel discussion titled “Towards a New Response to Forced Migration through Local Engagement Refugee Research Network” concluded the three-day LERRN 2.0 launch in Ottawa. The roundtable brought together academia and civil society partners with lived experience of displacement to present to the public the newly launched global partnership between academia and forcibly displaced communities (LERRN 2.0)

The discussion was moderated by Rez Gardi, Co-Director of LERRN and Co-Managing Director of R-SEAT. Panelists included James Milner, Co-Director of LERRN; Mustafa Alio, Co-Managing Director of R-SEAT; Ana Maria Diez of Coalición por Venezuela; and Stephanie Lopez Villamil, South America Project Lead and Researcher.

The panel highlighted the urgent challenges facing refugees globally and emphasized the need to prioritize new ways of incorporating the expertise of people with lived experiences of forced displacement into the functioning of the global refugee system. This includes fostering trust and investing in truly collaborative relationships between academics and forcibly displaced populations. By engaging refugees and displaced communities in the co-production of research, policy, and initiatives, stakeholders can leverage local knowledge, skills, and resources to create solutions that are more effective and accountable to the communities they aim to serve.

James Milner stressed the growing fragility of the global refugee system, noting that the political and financial foundations established after World War II have become increasingly vulnerable. He explained that the new phase of LERRN—built on a collective vision for change and trust-based partnerships among academia, civil society, and refugee leaders—aims to contribute to meaningful solutions. As Dr. Milner stated, “We respond by having the courage to think differently—no single set of actors has a monopoly on the truth.”

Ana Maria Diez, drawing on her expertise and knowledge of the regional crisis in Latin America—particularly the Venezuelan displacement—emphasized that sudden, unsubstantiated funding reductions have forced many regional initiatives to shut down. She noted that the closure of the Darién Gap illustrates the grave dangers that arise when escape routes are blocked, but it does not stop people from seeking safety.

Stephanie Lopez-Villamil shared findings from her extensive research in Colombia, Chile, and Brazil, highlighting how shifts in foreign aid policies and fragile asylum systems increase risks for people seeking refuge, placing them in more vulnerable and life-threatening conditions. She also underscored the crucial role of refugee leadership in safeguarding communities.

The discussion highlighted the urgent need for the international community to re-mobilize, strengthen protections to address systemic gaps, and foster deeper collaboration with displaced-led organizations to achieve effective and sustainable solutions.

LERRN’s new six-year partnership underscores a commitment to innovation and the development of a new response framework for forced migration. Broader collaborations with RLOs around the world create more opportunities for equal research partnerships and for amplifying refugee voices in key areas such as academia.

emphasized that academia can play the role of building trust with refugees and decision-making authorities that can influence positive outcomes for people forced to flee. Collaborations with academic institutions offer platforms for shared knowledge exchange and creation of innovative responses to displacement.

Central to LERRN 2.0 is the effort to elevate the voices of forcibly displaced communities and ensure their experiences inform research, policy, and practice. The partnership aims to promote inclusive approaches that benefit both refugees and host communities, fostering hope that coordinated, courageous action can drive change even in challenging times.

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The SSHRC Impact Awards honour researchers and thought leaders whose work deepens our understanding of people, society, and culture. Finalists represent the leading edge of innovation and insight, helping shape a more just, inclusive, and informed world.

Under the leadership of James Milner��and through our sustained collective efforts, LERRN has played a pivotal role in advancing the interdisciplinary field of refugee and forced migration studies. Through its commitment to equitable and inclusive South-North research collaboration, LERRN has helped shift the landscape of refugee research. Our innovative training programs—developed with and for refugees—create meaningful opportunities for learning, leadership, and knowledge-sharing.

Being named a finalist for the SSHRC Partnership Award recognizes the impact of LERRN’s collaborative approach and the importance of centering refugee voices and experiences in research, practice, and policy!

Introduction

Scholarship on refugee policy has grown substantially over the past decades, reflecting the increasing complexity of forced displacement and policy responses worldwide. This reflects the realization that state responses to refugees are not only shaped by legal and humanitarian considerations, but also by broader policy processes. It also invites deeper engagement with the field of policy studies and the insights it can offer to refugee and forced migration studies.

Refugee studies has long benefited from insights from different disciplines and, as forced displacement continues to pose complex governance challenges, it is crucial that the field maintains and expands this interdisciplinarity. Engaging with policy studies can advance scholarly analysis by shedding light on the institutions, actors, and ideas that shape refugee policy.

This paper examines the extent to which policy studies and refugee and forced migration studies have intersected in recent scholarship. In particular, it investigates how issues of refugee policy have been dealt with, looking into the theoretical and methodological approaches scholars employ.

The authors also explore what policy issues and themes are most prominent in recent research. Further, building on previous analyses conducted by LERRN, the paper also addresses key questions about which disciplines and institutions are shaping this subfield.

To explore these dynamics, the paper presents findings from a bibliometric and content analysis. By mapping key dimensions of refugee policy research, this study provides insights into the state of this subfield and highlights the potential for deeper cross-disciplinary engagement with policy studies

]]> /lerrn/2025/through-the-localization-looking-glass-seeing-subaltern-power-in-the-refugee-regime/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=through-the-localization-looking-glass-seeing-subaltern-power-in-the-refugee-regime Wed, 12 Mar 2025 13:16:21 +0000 /lerrn/?p=10186 We are thrilled to announce the release of the article titled “by Merve Erdilmen, James Milner, Megan Bradley published in

There has been increased scholarly and policy attention to “localized” responses to displacement, in the hope that further empowering local actors may unlock new means of protecting refugees’ rights and addressing their needs. However, these efforts have often oversimplified power relations within localization processes, bringing some players into focus while occluding others, and devoting insufficient attention to how localization processes and the power dynamics surrounding them have evolved over time. In response, this article draws on theories of subalternity and subaltern agency from the field of postcolonial studies to develop a more nuanced conceptualization of power in localization processes in the refugee regime. We contend that subalternity is best understood as a fluid, relational position that changes over time, such that particular refugees and displaced groups may oscillate between dominant and marginalized, subaltern subject positions, within intersecting systems of power. We probe refugees’ subaltern agency in terms of resistance and persistence, and deepen this account through analysis of localized responses to Burundian refugees in Tanzania, focusing on the localization of efforts to secure durable solutions for refugees. We argue that localization scholarship, particularly in the context of the refugee regime, needs to move beyond homogenized, dehistoricized, and romanticized notions of grassroots, refugee-led responses and focus on complex and fluid power configurations among diverse local actors.

As levels of forced displacement continue to grow around the world, �Ӱ�ԭ�� University is contributing to improved responses through partnered research, teaching and community engagement at a global scale.

�䲹������ٴDz�’s��James Milner, Associate Professor of Political Science has been appointed as co-chair of the Global Academic Interdisciplinary Network (GAIN) ─ a group of 213 university members from countries around the world formed from the Global Compact on Refugees.

Through his initial three-year term as co-chair, Milner will work alongside Professor Liliana Lyra Jubilut, Universidade Católica de Santos, Brazil, to advance the international effort that higher education can take in response to the growing and complex topic of forced migration and displacement. They will facilitate research, training and scholarship opportunities in support of the objectives of��.

“GAIN members believe that rigorous academic research can contribute to better responses to forced migration, that the awareness raised through teaching makes publics more understanding of refugee protection principles and that institutions of higher learning can play tangible roles as partners responding to displacement,” said Milner at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva in December.

One of Milner’s key priorities as GAIN co-chair is to support and promote the inclusion of refugees and other forced migrants as equal partners in all stages of the research process. Each of the priorities set by GAIN acknowledge that the perspectives and knowledge of individuals with lived experiences strengthen and legitimize the evidence-based solutions that contribute to transformative, lasting change and the vital role that universities play in identifying and creating the conditions that foster inclusivity.

GAIN, alongside leadership partners including �Ӱ�ԭ��’s LERRN: Local Engagement Refugee Research Network, also led by Milner, and the International Development Research Centre Canada (IRDC), will deliver on key outcomes of a����supported by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees.

“The core objective of the pledge,” said Milner, “is to contribute to more effective right-place responses to displacement by investing in and amplifying locally-produced knowledge, and quality partnerships with academia, globally.”

The Global Compact that GAIN is a part of was affirmed by the UN General Assembly in December 2018.

Milner is the current Project Director of��LERRN: The Local Engagement Refugee Research Network, researcher, practitioner and policy advisor on issues relating to migration and diaspora in the context of policy and politics.

As with any paradigm shift, change in the international refugee regime comes with its ups and downs. The global pandemic, for example, proved that top-down and large-scale responses have become unsustainable and ineffective over time. Instead, Milner states “our only hope is to foster and to support localized responses.”

In the episode, Milner defines what localization means in the context of humanitarian responses, while unveiling some of the barriers and obstacles in implementing localization when meeting refugee needs. “We need to recognize that refugees are not there to be disciplined or governed, refugees are human beings with agency, ideas, and innovation. Recognizing that they have a meaningful and equal role to play is not just an ethically good thing to do, but also it’s a practically important thing to do” says Milner. Localization, then, requires a transfer of powers and funding from international actors to local actors who are closest to the forced displacement.

You can listen to James Milner’s previous podcast episode here and contact us on for a conversation!

Event details and recordings available here.

On January 16, the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN), in collaboration with the Centre for Lebanese Studies (CLS), hosted a webinar to launch the Middle East results from the project Evaluation of Refugee-Led Organizations in East Africa and the Middle East. More than 100 participants from 25 countries joined the webinar to learn about refugee mobilisation and refugee-led organizations (RLOs) in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The webinar featured panelists Oroub El-Abed, Watfa Najdi, Mustafa Hoshmand, and Farah Al Hamouri from the research team, as well as discussants Meryem Aslan and Yara Mourad. Recent international commitments to localize aid, such as the 2018 Global Compact on Refugees, has placed an emphasis on enhancing refugees’ self-reliance and recognizing the value of refugee participation in decision-making. Coupled with the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, these global dynamics have resulted in . The results of the Middle East research on refugee-led responses, summarized in the Executive Summary published ahead of the webinar, reveal conclusions that speak directly to these global trends and shed new light on the dynamics of refugee-led responses.

Oroub El-Abed kicked off the presentation by emphasizing that there is a long history of refugee-led responses in the Middle East. However, there have been very few studies that provide evidence of RLO impact. This study, similar to the study of RLOs in East Africa, demonstrates the positive impact of RLOs in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The results are a testament to the importance of enhancing refugee self-reliance and decision-making.

Watfa Najdi explained that RLOs in the Middle East vary significantly in terms of their organizational structures, agendas, and activities. Indeed, “one of the most particular advantages of RLOs is that they are able to identify the community needs in a very collaborative and inclusive way which results in the variations in the RLO activities in the region” Najdi explained. Farah Al Hamouri reflected on the obstacles to refugee agency in the region. The diverse policies of host states in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey grant different access to official registration for RLOs. Official registration is an important determinant of the capacity of RLOs, since registration enables access to international funding, ensures safety while operating, and establishes networks with other organizations. Mustafa Hoshmand emphasized that it is challenging to measure some of the most important impacts of RLOs, such as the social capital they build in refugee communities or their ability to bring awareness to refugee voices. RLOs may also play a role in building positive relationships with the host community and the state.

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Reflecting on the report findings, El-Abed suggested a wide range of recommendations that could enhance the impact of RLOs in the region, help them better serve their communities, foster a trust-based relationship with RLOs, and better address the needs of refugees. These recommendations – addressing issues ranging from local to national to transnational levels – point out the need for more permissive laws that allow refugees to mobilise publicly and to register their organizations. The research team also recommended ensuring that a wider range of RLOs can access funding.

Yara Mourad from the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut (AUB) agreed with the factors that condition RLO responses, such as the policy environment of host countries and barriers surrounding the registration of RLOs. Mourad added that the dynamics of host communities are also a major factor in the activities of RLOs. Mourad suggested that future research could ask questions related to the relationship between refugee mobilisation and host communities: How can RLOs support refugees and host community members? ��What are best practices for outreach to the local community? How can RLOs contribute to community cohesion? Meryem Aslan from Oxfam Netherlands and the Refugee Council of Turkey further emphasized the importance of and solidarity between international, national, and local partners working in the field of humanitarian aid. Aslan stated that while registration is crucial for RLOs to ensure a safe environment for their activities, registration does not guarantee funding, as pointed out by .

During the audience Q&A, the panelists drew attention to the importance of including localized knowledge and ensuring the safety of refugees when conducting research with refugee communities and with refugee research assistants. Ana Belén Anguita Arjona from UNHCR further underlined the importance of considering questions of representation and diversity in RLO mobilisation. How do different minority groups within refugee communities, such as people with different sexual orientations or people with disabilities, participate in RLOs and benefit from RLOs? It is also crucial that partnerships go beyond financial aid to building trust and solidarity. In conclusion, El-Abed emphasized that “refugees are active regardless of the barriers that affect them” and they exercise agency in different ways. Despite restrictive environments, refugee mobilisation continues. It is important to recognize the smaller, unregistered, and often “invisible” RLOs who do important work in their communities.

This report was prepared by Irem Karabağ, LERRN Project Writer.��

Further Reading:

James Milner, LERRN Project Director, Mustafa Alio, Managing Director, and , R-SEAT Co-managing Director, have co-authored Meaningful Refugee Participation: An Emerging Norm in the Global Refugee Regime in , the peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal from Oxford University Press. The full article is available for download here:

The article was published in Volume 41, Issue 4 of Refugee Survey Quarterly in December 2022:

Abstract

On October 3rd, 2022, the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations and R-SEAT (Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table) hosted a hybrid roundtable discussion, with some 100 participants joining in person in New York or virtually via Zoom.

Accountability and participation are now understood as central to collective action in response to most global human-centered issues. The same is true in discussions of responses to the needs of refugees. When the UN General Assembly affirmed the Global Compact on Refugees in 2018, it acknowledged that “responses are most effective when they actively and meaningfully engage those they are intended to protect and assist.”

The roundtable discussed how to implement this commitment from the Global Compact on Refugees, recognizing that meaningful refugee participation is becoming an important norm in the international refugee system. Speakers and participants considered “lessons learned” from recent efforts to promote meaningful refugee participation in the governance of the international refugee system, including the practice of having refugee delegates as part of Member State delegations to meeting of the international refugee system, and the establishment of new Refugee Advisory Councils. They also reflected on how meaningful refugee participation can make global responses to displacement more legitimate and effective.

Among the presenters were the Honourable Bob Rae, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations; Mustafa Alio, Managing Director of R-SEAT; and Leah Zamore, Associate Director, Humanitarian Policy at the Center on International Cooperation (CIC). LERRN Director James Milner moderated the roundtable discussion.

LERRN is pleased to present the following Event Report in collaboration with R-SEAT entitled “From Accountability to Meaningful Participation: Refugees & the Governance of International Refugee Responses.”