°ŐžąłŮąôąđťĺĚý“Beyond Presence: Who Shapes Decisions in Global Refugee Governance?”, this piece asks a straightforward but essential question. In a system where everyone now talks about “inclusion,” are refugees actually influencing the decisions that affect their lives, or is their presence mostly symbolic?

The reflection looks honestly at what happened during the Progress Review. While over 250 participants with lived experience attended and the language of partnership was everywhere, the note questions how much has really changed. It asks whether refugees are being brought into the room to speak or to truly shape outcomes.

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.Ěý

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 emergencyĚýresponse, 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 10 September 2025, the Migration and Diaspora Studies (MDS) program launched its Guest Speaker Series for the 2025-2026 academic year. The event welcomed MDS students into a thought-provoking dialogue with , LERRN partner, a distinguished scholar in the political economy of education and Co-Director of the Centre for Asia Pacific Research Studies (CAPRS) at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. In this conversation, Dr. Shah invited participants to reflect on the key themes of his draft paper, “The Tangled Web between Refugee Rights, Capitalism, Race, and Education”. Drawing on his extensive research, Dr. Shah encouraged students to critically examine how these forces intersect within education in emergencies, positioning it as a key site for understanding the complex intersectionality of forced migration.

Borders are more than lines—they shape who belongs

Dr. Shah began by discussing contemporary bordering and its connection to racialization, highlighting how these practices continue to impact refugee education. He defined bordering as the “practices and policies that construct, maintain, and enforce borders,” emphasizing that borders are not only physical but also social and political practices embedded in everyday life. Beyond geographic boundaries, bordering shapes who is included or excluded, and also influences individuals’ sense of belonging. Racialization, through groupings, labels, and categories, justifies mobility for some while criminalizing or securitizing movement for others. Furthermore, this racialization determines the levels of protection and access to rights available to different individuals and groups.

Drawing on the work of Nira Yuval-Davis et al. in , Dr. Shah elucidated the concept of “gray zones” — spaces where national sovereignty and accountability become blurred in contemporary migration management, leading to the externalization of migration. He argued that the provision of education has itself become a “gray zone” within this context. Much of contemporary externalization is observed within the Global North, which prioritizes security over human rights, leaving many refugees in an “unsettled present and uncertain future.” Dr. Shah presented examples of how non-state actors in the Global North have come to profit from the externalization of mass migration.

Dr. Shah suggested that the work of refugee teachers and learners in and through these gray zones is both necessary and vulnerable to global capitalism. For learners, the primary challenge is accessing education, whilst teachers navigate gray zones by creating opportunities in informal and unrecognized education programs. Due to the unaccredited nature of these programs, learners often struggle to find higher levels of education or navigate their way into the workforce. Refugee teachers often face restrictions that limit their ability to join the workforce due to host country fears of increased unemployment for citizens. Additional barriers include the non-recognition of refugees’ credentials and qualifications or, when recognition is possible, a process that is often complex, bureaucratic, and difficult to navigate.

Global capitalism profits from exclusion

Dr. Shah and students reflected on the question of why there has been no national political will for enabling refugee teachers to help address the growing teacher shortage. To answer this question, Dr. Shah turned to the work of Nancy Fraser, who argued that global capitalism is fueled by exploitation and expropriation, relying on conditions that are created outside the formal economy, which help sustain and expand its operations. Capitalism thus thrives off emerging spaces outside the traditional realm of commodification and economic activity. Dr. Shah argued that contemporary political and social structures of the Global North are indicative of racialized capitalism.

Dr. Shah concluded by arguing that capitalism’s dual logic — expropriation and exploitation — is enabled by racialized social relations that compel refugees to participate in economic systems that marginalize them and push them to the peripheries of capitalism. Drawing on his work on refugee education, he illustrated how forced migration is not a crisis for global capitalism but rather essential to its survival. As the Global North continues to securitize its borders and profit from the externalization of migration, the global political economy thrives on the precarious conditions imposed on refugees.

What an inspiring start to a year of critical dialogue and new ideas at the Migration and Diaspora Studies Program! Through critical cross-disciplinary scholarship and open dialogue MDS fosters deeper understanding of movement and transnational settlement of people.

To learn more about the program and join the conversation by visiting Migration and Diaspora Studies – ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University

This event was in part supported by LERRN, Local Engagement Refugee Research Network.

Listen Below for the Full Conversation

By Abdi Bishar Bashir, York University, Borderless Higher Education for Refugees (BHER) Program

Executive Summary

This research investigates barriers to the implementation and provision of inclusive education for learners with disabilities in Hagadera Primary Schools. Inclusive education is an educational philosophy based on human rights and democratic principles that aim to address educational exclusion faced by learners with disabilities. Its implementation facilitates an education system that fits and responds to the need of all learners particularly, to those living with disabilities. As the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) implementing primary education in Hagadera camp are trying to provide inclusive education for all, overcoming barriers for learners with disabilities remains the most difficult challenge. This research seeks to better understand the barriers that not only hinder the implementation and provision of inclusive education, but specifically those that lead to the exclusion of learners with disabilities, particularly to those with hearing, vision, and physical impairments.

The paper employs a qualitative research design conducting semi-structured interviews for three learners with disabilities and an administrative teacher. The semi-structured questions are guided by the intensive understanding of barriers to the implementation and provision of inclusive education while also addressing some tangible solutions. Findings explore that insufficient teaching and learning resources, exacerbated by the disability-unfriendly environment, ignited the negative attitudes of learners with disabilities and contributed to their discrimination in the classroom and elsewhere. The findings also acknowledged the need to enhance public awareness and sensitization of educational rights of persons with disabilities.

View the full LERRN Working Paper Series here:

DOI

Citation

Bashir, A. B. (2025). Barriers to Inclusive Education For Learners With Disabilities in Primary Schools in Hagadera Refugee Camp. Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN).

“These displacements have made the people very vulnerable and especially the men, our most vulnerable people, although when you go to the organization for help they say no, we don’t help men we only help women and ladies, but I’m telling you, our men have become very vulnerable and this has led to GBV in their homes, because now it is the woman who goes out and comes back with food, it’s now the woman who is working and has taken the traditional role of providing for the family, which was a man’s role.” – A quote from a female refugee leader

Displacement in the East African region refers to forced movement of individuals or communities from their homes due to conflict, persecution, natural disasters, climate change, or economic instability. This displacement can be internal (within a country) or across borders (as refugees).

Refugees in Kenya are mostly from Somalia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia, communities that have deeply rooted patriarchal systems, as is still much of the region.

Gender dynamics significantly impact refugee leadership in Kenya, both in the camps and in urban areas. These dynamics, influence who leads, how leadership is perceived, and what barriers or opportunities exist for inclusive governance within refugee communities. Therefore, understanding and addressing gender disparities is imperative for advancing equitable participation and effective community representation. Leadership structures in refugee camps and urban settlements are often male dominated, and this extends to refuge-led organizations or camp committees, where women are often given secondary roles, such as secretarial duties rather than being included in the decision-making processes. It is no wonder that programmes have over focused on empowering women, yet, this is causing an imbalance where the development of men and boys is concerned.

Historically, in many societies, women were denied access to formal jobs, land ownership, and were often restricted to domestic roles. Patriarchal systems reinforced male dominance in politics, economy, and social structures, whereas women had limited legal rights and were often seen as dependents of men. In many cultures around the world, women mostly gained voting rights in the 20^th century and presently many societies still lack gender- inclusive policies in governance and economy.

These injustices and discrimination over the years gave rise to feminist advocacy movements that led to the in 1995, which was a turning point for women’s rights worldwide, where countries committed to eliminating gender-based discrimination and promoting equality. The also aims to achieve ‘gender equality’ and empower all women and girls.

In a recent study conducted by LERRN, findings from refugee leaders in Nairobi suggest that gender-focused programming, while crucial, can unintentionally neglect the unique challenges faced by men and boys, particularly in contexts where access to education, employment, and leadership is already constrained. This perceived imbalance can foster resentment, social tension, and even backlash against women’s gains. Gender equality should not be seen as a zero-sum game. A more inclusive and equitable approach requires designing programs that respond to the needs of all genders, ensuring that initiatives are seen as collective gains rather than individual privileges. When both women and men are supported to lead, contribute, and access opportunities, refugee communities are most likely to thrive, with leadership that is representative, collaborative, and sustainable.

In refugee camps, leadership structures often replicate patriarchal norms, with men dominating formal leadership roles whereas in urban settings, informal leadership spaces offer opportunities for women, yet these roles often lack institutional recognition or support. In resource scarce settings, the perception that women’s empowerment equals men’s disempowerment can emerge – not out of resistance to women’s rights, but from feelings of exclusion. This reinforces gender inequality by shifting resentment, not toward the systems that marginalize everyone, but toward the gender that appears to be gaining recognition.

“Jack is a young man who is able to articulate what he does in his community. Jill is not doing the same thing that Jack is doing. But imagine if Jill was doing the same, articulating what she has been doing for all those three decades, and shining the same light to what other women are doing. I think for women, they take what they do very lightly, and they don’t voice it out. They don’t show you; they don’t document it. Because they feel like, “we’re just helping our people.” –Ěý A quote by female refugee leader

** Jack and Jill not real names of leaders. Names changed to protect leaders. **

Women is a lauded move but not at the expense of men and boys, as this creates an imbalanced society, while contradicting the term ‘’. Some men perceive women’s empowerment as a threat rather than a solution which can lead to increased gender-based violence, broken families, and resistance to gender policies. Refugee men and boys who feel economically and socially powerless are prone to depression, alcoholism, and substance abuse and suicide due to lack of purpose. Excluding men from economic and leadership opportunities, leads to family breakdowns because men feeling disempowered and women end up carrying double burdens i.e., working and handling family responsibilities. As traditional male roles shift, men need new identities based on respect, partnership and shared responsibilities. Without guidance, some men turn to aggression, hyper-masculinity, or social withdrawal. When refugee males, especially youth or marginalized sub-groups face barriers to employment, education, and leadership without targeted support, it creates a gap in programming. This absence may lead to social tensions, identity crises, and backlash that hinder the progress of women empowerment efforts.

“Women are already leaders in their community but they are humble/modest about it. I come from a community where men have been weakened because women have been empowered by most of the organizations, many of the project initiatives support mostly women and not men.”Ěý – A quote by male refugee leader

Women empowerment is essential, but excluding men is creating new complications and while the solution is not to stop empowering women and girls but men and boys should be included in the conversation, to ensure that both genders thrive together and not one, at the expense of the other. Addressing gender dynamics in refugee leadership is critical to achieving inclusive and equitable governance in both camp and urban setting in Kenya. Strategic investment, policy reform, and community engagement can foster an environment where all refugees, regardless of gender, can lead and participate meaningfully in shaping their future for a thriving and well-functioning posterity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lavender Mboya brings to the East Africa Research Team over eight years of experience in project administration, coordination, and research, with a focus on migration. In her previous work, as a research team leader within a regional consortium, she led studies examining the dynamics, drivers, and implications of mobility, migration, and displacement across the Horn of Africa. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from The Open University, United Kingdom.

ABOUT THE STUDY:

To learn more about the study results, please visit: /lerrn/refugee-leadership-in-south-america-and-east-africa/

˛ú˛âĚýConstanza Lobos, Stephanie LĂłpez Villamil

Panel: “Venezuelan refugees in Latin America: protection gaps” during the Global Refugee Forum 2023. In the photo: Fernanda Bedoya (El Derecho a No Obedecer), Roberto Blanco (Alianza VenCR), Robert Tigrera (Asociación Lluvia de Arcoiris), Lublanc Prieto (Refugees United)

As part of the project “The Politics and Process of Refugee Leadership: A Comparative Analysis of Factors Conditioning Refugee Leadership in Global South” our team of researchers from Colombia and Chile conducted fieldwork in both countries to understand the conditions that enable or constrain refugees to demonstrate leadership in navigating local, national and regional power structures to influence the development and implementation of policies and programs aimed at affecting their daily lives.

During the first semester of 2024, we approached Venezuelan and Haitian leaders in both countries to learn about their trajectories and experiences. We discussed their needs and expectations and the obstacles they have encountered in their paths for the meaningful participation of their communities and in carrying out advocacy processes. Methodologically, this involved approaching refugee and migrant leaders considering research ethics and the challenges to approach the different actors, including organizations, and associated institutions. In this blog, we will reflect on the main implications of doing research with refugee and migrant leaders from the global south.

Methodology design and first approaches to the field

One of the team’s first tasks was to approach refugee and migrant communities, leaders, and relevant actors by attending different events related to migration and refugees. We also collected secondary data that was very useful to build a contextual overview of the migration and refugee situations in Colombia and Chile. All of the above made it possible to do a mapping of actors that was key to understanding the realities of both countries and to select possible participants for the research.

A disadvantage in the Chilean case was that there were no official records of migrant and refugee organizations, so the mapping had to be built based on the knowledge of the research assistants in Chile and their involvement in different events through participant observation. In Colombia, both researchers leveraged their networks and previous collaborations with RLOs to recruit participants.

Another important challenge we faced in the case of Chile was the recent modifications of the political-legal context, with the enactment of a new migration law that modified the requirements and procedures for obtaining refugee status, as well as the presentation of different bills in Congress in a short period. This had an impact on the public political discourse in Chilean society, reinforcing a scenario of criminalization of migratory flows. We addressed this issue by developing various strategies to ensure respectful relationships with the participants and creating spaces of trust and security for both; us and them. Also, the collection of background information on the legal and political context allowed the team members to be aware of the situations that were occurring in Chile and to be informed when conducting interviews and focus groups.

While designing the data collection instruments for the fieldwork, a positive aspect was the collaborative creation of interview and focus group questions within the team. We considered relevant items for both the Chilean and Colombian cases. This allowed us to gain a broader perspective on the subject under investigation by contrasting elements of the context in each country and seeking commonalities and unique aspects of the experiences of migrant and refugee leaders.

Field data collection: obstacles, challenges, and achievements

Fieldwork was carried out between May and June 2024 in three cities: BogotĂĄ, Riohacha, and Santiago. We conducted semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) with Venezuelan and Haitian leaders, representatives of institutions related to migration and refugee issues, representatives of international organizations, and experts.

One of the main challenges in recruiting people at the beginning of the fieldwork was the distrust and lack of interest in the participation of community leaders in the regions of Chile, especially from the Haitian community. Some leaders expressed their concerns about “academic extractivism” and the risk of disregarding their voices when disseminating research results. To address this issue, we primarily relied on the established trust with researchers and established new platforms for open dialogue and collaboration to further strengthen this trust. Additionally, we informed the participants about the opportunity to engage in discussions about the findings and to be involved in the dissemination process, which piqued the interest of some participants.

The main challenge we encountered was the difficulty in getting leaders in Chile to participate in interviews or FGDs due to their busy schedules. Most of them have full-time jobs and work simultaneously in their organizations, leaving them with little time for extra activities. Additionally, the fieldwork in Chile coincided with the end of the first semester of the work/student year and the vacations of some interviewees and their children, leading to limited availability and the need to reschedule appointments. We sought to accommodate their availability of time and locations and be flexible with the proposed times. We agreed to conduct interviews and the focus group discussion after 6 p.m. so that they could participate.

In the case of Colombia, the main challenge was to elicit responses from state institutions and international organizations for the interviews. The solution was to seek out alternative individuals or organizations.

We encountered various challenges during our fieldwork in both countries, prompting us to consider new approaches for involving migrant and refugee leaders in the co-design and co-development of our research. We aimed to gather their perspectives on the situation and to build trust between researchers and participants or organizations. We believe that involving leaders in other stages of the research process could help us recruit more people, particularly from the Haitian community and among Haitian women, who were initially hesitant to participate.

Takeaways from our fieldwork in Chile and Colombia

The fieldwork in South America provided valuable lessons for both the team and the participants. These are our key takeaways:

• Establishing strong and trusting relationships with communities, organizations, and authorities is essential for effectively involving them in the co-design process from the outset of the research. This will help ensure that the research objectives and outcomes have a meaningful and beneficial impact on the communities involved.
• Building trust with the participants and developing collaborative proposals for future work. Leaders expressed their interest in continued involvement in the research, such as writing articles or academic blogs, and other forms of collaboration beyond the initial interview.
• Gaining a deeper understanding of the dynamics within the communities we intend to investigate, such as gender and age relations, and power structures. This understanding could help us establish stronger connections and determine effective ways to engage with different communities, such as the Haitian community.
• Collaborating continuously with leaders to discuss the research results and involve them in various dissemination activities. Many leaders appreciated being asked about their needs, which is a significant outcome of the research, especially in contexts where information on this topic is scarce or non-existent.
• Listening to migrant and refugee leaders is crucial for any research, integrating their voices into debates, disseminating the results, and creating opportunities for dialogue with authorities and experts.

This blog builds on findings from the LERRN study “The Politics and Process of Refugee Leadership: A Comparative Analysis of Factors Conditioning Refugee Leadership in the Global South”, funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation. As part of this research, I conducted fieldwork in the Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee settlements in Kenya to explore the factors that enable or constrain refugee leadership. Using qualitative methods, I gathered data through one focus group discussion with twelve participants, four key informant interviews with representatives from three humanitarian organizations and one government agency involved in refugee protection, and four individual interviews with leaders of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs).

Photo Credit: Pascal Zigashane

Most of the refugee leaders I interviewed in Kakuma refugee camp were not leaders in their countries of origin. While in their home countries, the refugee leaders I spoke to throughout the research project were not involved in any leadership roles. One expressed that while in Uganda, “I was involved as a leader in a church function of a group of young people.” Refugees are inspired to take on leadership roles because of the circumstances and gaps in humanitarian services. Refugee leadership is very important to them as they mobilize their communities to collectively respond to their needs.

What motivates refugees to take up leadership roles in Kakuma refugee camp?

Gaps in humanitarian services drive refugees to take on leadership roles. Humanitarian organizations provide assistance to refugees in various sectors such as education, livelihoods, and health care, but they don’t always meet every need. In the implementation of humanitarian services, refugee leaders see gaps and feel motivated to take action to address them. They start initiatives and mobilize communities to fill these gaps. In the education sector, refugee leaders start initiatives to provide afternoon classes to help students perform and get good grades in school. Some of these leaders have established formal schools to address quality education issues. The teacher-student ratio in NGO-run schools reveals a huge gap in the quality of education, with one teacher serving a class of more than 180 students. This leaves some students unattended. Refugee leaders would go the extra mile to mentor those who have completed secondary school and guide them through the process of applying for tertiary scholarships to increase enrollment in tertiary education.

Refugee leaders take initiatives to equally address the needs of those who don’t have secondary education and those who can’t enter tertiary education due to poor performance in the national exam. Refugee leaders take the initiative to develop vocational training to equip their fellow refugees with various skills that will enable them to participate in the informal economy. Throughout the implementation of these initiatives, refugee leaders demonstrate solidarity with their communities. Refugees will mobilize resources to provide their peers with tools to engage in entrepreneurial activities to achieve self-sufficiency. They build infrastructure where their community members can access services and support.

Most of the female refugee leaders who participated in the research are motivated to take on leadership roles in order to change cultural norms. During the interview, the Executive Director of the She Can Initiative expressed her drive to establish the initiative to support young girls who have long been denied equal status with men in society by their culture. In some cultures, young girls are married off before the age of 18 and have no say in family decisions. They drop out of school to start a family at an early age. Some refugee women who have taken on leadership roles have initiatives that empower women, drive change and influence cultural norms that affect women. They address cultural issues and advocate for women’s rights. As part of their support for young girls, they provide training on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Refugee-led, women-owned organizations empower young girls to make their own sexual choices.

Roles and Responsibilities of refugee leaders

Refugee leadership is crucial for their role in speaking out about refugee issues. Refugee leaders are advocates for refugee issues. Through advocacy, refugee leaders become the voices of voiceless refugees and raise awareness of systemic issues. Leaders advocate for changes to gaps in services provided by humanitarian organizations. They advocate for refugee education, economic inclusion, health care, livelihoods, safety, employment, and identification documents. Through advocacy, refugee leaders speak out about the harassment and arbitrary arrests their communities experience at the hands of authorities and security officials. They use structurally available platforms and social media to make the voices of their community heard.

Despite limited access to resources, refugee leaders play a very important role in mobilizing their community members to collectively respond to the issues that affect them. Refugee leaders mobilize their communities to protest humanitarian interventions that affect them. In the recent protests in the Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements, refugees protested the lack of access to clean water, cuts in World Food Program food rations, and insecurity. When refugee voices are not heard, leaders mobilize their community members to protest at the UNHCR sub office in Kakuma to make their voices heard. Refugee leaders also play the role of peacemakers. Kakuma refugee camp has experienced recurrent ethnic conflict, which has caused loss of life in the affected communities and sometimes escalated to their countries of origin, such as South Sudan. Formal leaders, those elected to represent and lead their communities, and ethnic leaders work together to bring peace and de-escalate conflict.

Challenges that refugee leaders face in demonstrating leadership

There are platforms for policy discussions, but refugee leaders face limited participation in these spaces. A few refugee leaders are invited to local and national meetings, but their voices are often ignored in decision-making processes. Refugee leaders who are invited to these platforms are often invited based on the interest of the organizer. Meaningful refugee participation is hindered by tokenism. According to the research findings, tokenism makes the participation of refugee leaders in decision-making very superficial, where their voices matter because they serve the interests of those who brought them. The other challenge that refugee leaders face that prevents them from exercising leadership is the delay in obtaining identification documents. This prevents them from attending important meetings outside their localities. Without proper documentation, they face restrictions on movement and limited access to services.

Conclusion

Most of the refugee leaders in Kakuma camp had no leadership experience in their countries of origin, but while in the camp, they took on leadership roles to address gaps in humanitarian services. They also demonstrate leadership in advocating for communities to influence change in the areas of education, health, economic inclusion, livelihoods, and security. Their efforts address not only humanitarian gaps but also harmful cultural norms in their communities including those that deny women’s right to sexual autonomy and reproductive health. Refugee leaders mobilize their communities to respond to these issues and protest policies that do not effectively address their needs. Despite the important role refugee leaders play, they face significant challenges in having their voices heard in decision-making. They also experience limited participation in forums due to delays in accessing identification documents. Often, their involvement is reduced to tokenism, keeping their participation in decision-making superficial.

On 1 April, LERRN’s Project Director James Milner, and R-SEAT’s Co-Managing Director Rez Gardi delivered a technical briefing on the global refugee regime at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in New York. The briefing was developed in collaboration with Leah Zamore from the Zolberg Institute at the New School of Social Research.

Within the UN System, refugee issues are typically seen as an issue to be addressed only in Geneva. Given the evolving nature of displacement, however, coupled with the critical role of the UN General Assembly and the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in the governance of the global refugee regime, the briefing was developed to highlight the role of Member States in New York in advancing the objectives of the global refugee regime.

Representatives from more than 30 Member States participated in the briefing, which provided an overview of the history and elements of the global refugee regime, how the UN in New York has contributed to the evolution of the regime over the past 75 years, and how UN actors in New York, especially development and peacebuilding actors, can contribute to more comprehensive responses to the increasingly complex dynamics of displacement.

A prominent feature of the briefing was the role that advances in meaningful refugee participation can play in advancing more effective and efficient solutions for refugees. Given the role of participation of other groups in ECOSOC discussions, the briefing argued that enhanced opportunities for refugee participation in New York discussions would help ensure that the expertise of refugees contributed to outcomes for policy and practice.

The briefing was timed to help inform preparations for the ECOSOC Special Meeting on Forced Displacement and Refugee Protection on 24 April 2025.

This study delves into the complex dynamics of waiting for resettlement faced by refugees in Kenyan refugee camps, specifically focusing on the strategies individuals and communities develop as they navigate uncertain futures. By examining the psychological, social, and economic dimensions of waiting, the publication sheds light on the resilience and adaptability of refugees in the face of prolonged displacement and uncertainty of resettlement.

Abstract

For many refugees, going home is not possible because of continued instability and local integration is unavailable due to host country policies, so resettlement becomes the only possible “durable solution” to displacement. In Kenya, despite long-standing resettlement programmes, there remain over 588,000 refugees and asylum seekers living in the country. While most studies of resettlement focus on those who resettle, this paper sheds light on the perspectives of those who are still waiting in Kenyan camps for resettlement: those who have “not yet” and perhaps will “never” be resettled. Through focus groups and interviews with 75 refugees in the Dadaab refugee camps, Kakuma Refugee Camp, and Kalobeyei settlement, we find that camp residents experience waiting for resettlement individually and communally. Individually, camp residents assess options, place life plans on hold, and face the mental health consequences of prolonged uncertainty. Communally, camp residents interpret policy changes, share information, and exchange remittances.

This research was co-produced with equal participation of researchers with lived experiences of displacement, currently residing in Kakuma and Dadaab, Kenya. This work is essential for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners working in refugee studies, migration, and humanitarian aid.

We hope this research sparks meaningful conversations and contributes to advancing our understanding of displacement, waiting for resettlement, and resilience in refugee communities.

Related Publications

Policy Brief: Waiting for Resettlement Increasing Transparency in the Resettlement Process in Kenya

By Brianna Parent Long, ĐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University and Muzna Dureid, Concordia University

Executive Summary

Despite Canada’s recognition as a global leader in refugee resettlement and the introduction of the FIAP under the Trudeau’s administration, we identify a crucial oversight: the insufficient focus on forced displacement within its feminist international assistance framework. In this article, we critically examine Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) in the context of forced displacement, a crisis exacerbated by political turmoil and gender-specific vulnerabilities.

We draw on Canada’s policies before and after the election of Trudeau, highlighting a shift from a more conservative stance under the Harper government to a more progressive yet still inadequate approach under Trudeau, arguing that this gap challenges the integrity of the FIAP’s feminist ethos by overlooking the role of forced displacement in achieving sustainable development, gender equality and peace. We argue that the FIAP’s minimal engagement with displacement issues demonstrates a failure to recognize the political and security dimensions of displacement and its impact on women and girls. A thorough evaluation of Canada’s policy documents, speeches, and public statements reveals a pattern of essentialist and depoliticized treatment of displacement.

This article emphasizes the need for a robust and nuanced policy that incorporates local perspectives, particularly from women peacebuilders and organizations in conflict zones. It argues for the expansion of Canada’s definition of security to include the threats and concerns defined by those directly affected by conflict and displacement and addresses the complex interplay of gender, security, and peace.

View the full LERRN Working Papers Series here:

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CitationĚý

Long, B. P., Dureid, M. (2025). Forced Displacement and Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy: What is Missing? Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN). Ěý