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

At a time when global displacement is at its highest, this synthesis report offers a timely and evidence-based perspective on how refugees themselves — not only external actors — are leading meaningful, locally rooted, and effective responses. By drawing together diverse regional experiences and deepening our understanding of refugee agency, the report reinforces the need for policy and funding frameworks, provides clear recommendations to strengthen support for RLOs and advance meaningful refugee participation.

In this report:

• The report draws lessons from the LERRN two large research studies that involved participation of over 400 refugee-led organizations (RLOs) and more than 100 refugee leaders in 25 different locations across nine countries: Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Colombia, Chile, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
• The report highlights the variety of RLO roles — from service provision (education, livelihoods, social support) to cultural activities, advocacy, and community-level governance.
• The analysis highlights both constraints an opportunities: how refugee-led responses build agency and resilience, and how political, legal and funding barriers continue to limit their full potential.
• The report includes practical recommendations for donors, governments, international agencies, and civil society to strengthen support for refugee-led organizations and to advance meaningful refugee participation.

Read or download the full report:

Upcoming Event:

We at LERRN invite you to explore this timely report and to join us for a panel discussion “Building Bridges Across Regions” in Geneva on 15 December!

Whether you are a researcher, student, policy-maker, member of a refugee-led organization, or simply interested in inclusive and community-led humanitarian responses, we invite you to join us for a panel discussion to learn more about this report findings and hear from the discussants.

LERRN will host an in person event, Building Bridges Across Regions: East Africa & Latin America, in Geneva on 15 December as part of the

Our panel discussion provides a critical opportunity to reflect on the report’s insights, consider their implications for refugee-led responses globally, and explore pathways to strengthen refugee agency across regions and within the global refugee regime.

For more information about the upcoming event, visit LERRN upcoming events.

“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.” –�� 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.”�� – 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/

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.

Para la versión en español, desplácese hasta la parte inferior de esta página.

On February 08, 2025, the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN) hosted a webinar to present and discuss the findings of a recently completed special research project on the Politics And Processes Of Refugee Leadership In The Global South, generously supported by the ,�� with a specific focus on South America and East Africa. The webinar attracted over 100 participants from 19 different countries. The panellists discussed the results of an 18-month comparative study on the conditions that enable or constrain refugees from demonstrating leadership in local, national and regional power structures, and shared greater insight into how they think leadership can be redefined in the context of displacement and local solutions in the selected countries of the global South.����

The webinar was moderated by James Milner, who began the discussion with introductory remarks on the growing research interest in meaningful refugee participation and refugee-led organizations over the last decade. He reflected on the gap in the existing literature, which has predominantly conceptualized refugee leadership from the perspective of the Global North, particularly in humanitarian-based contexts that overlook forms of refugee leadership at the local level. Inspired by this research findings, he encouraged attendees to draw from the panellists’ presentations to critically reflect on how leadership is defined, understood, and mobilized.����

Stephanie Lopez Villamil, Project Lead Researcher in South America, presented her findings from research conducted in Chile and Colombia, where her team focused on leadership dynamics amongst displaced Venezuelan and Haitian populations. She highlighted how refugee leaders did not necessarily see themselves as leaders but rather thought of themselves as another member of the community trying to help others. Building on this, she noted the substantial differences between conventional political leadership and the circumstantial leadership positions that refugees assume when seeking out solutions to their plight. The South American research team also found that gender was a very relevant factor in the self-identification of leadership, with Dr. Lopez Villamil sharing how women, particularly in the Venezuelan community, were hesitant to refer to themselves as leaders. Her presentation concluded with reflections on the conditions that must be addressed in order to strengthen refugee leadership in the Global South, calling for greater social and mental health support, direct funding to RLOs, capacity-building, and increased opportunities for meaningful refugee participation. Her powerful words resonated with the audience, serving as a reminder that refugee leaders are powerful agents of change:��

“Leaders have emerged to respond to the needs of migrants and refugees, but also as powerful voices contesting restrictive measures put in place by some governments, so advocating for their rights, they are recognized by host communities as powerful agents representing migrants and refugees and their needs.”����

Ronald Sebba Kalyango, Project Lead Researcher in East Africa, then shared his team’s insights from research based in Uganda and Kenya, which focused on refugee leadership in the urban contexts of Kampala and Nairobi as well as refugee settlements of Nakivale and Kakuma. ��Dr. Kalyango’s presentation echoed the earlier conversation about how refugees become leaders by seeking solutions, sharing how many of the refugee leaders in the East Africa region start as activists, interpreters, and researchers who desire change. ��

“What usually happens with the refugee leaders is that what motivates them is the desire to cause change in their communities, not so much about being leaders or being seen or being visible or accessing resources, but usually they come out with a desire to see change in their communities”.����

This notion of leadership affirmed similar findings of the South America research group, which also challenged conventional understandings of leadership by observing refugees in more informal spaces of advocacy and social movements. He then compared the challenges faced by refugee leaders in East Africa to those in South America, drawing similarities between barriers such as tokenization, precarious legal status, and male-dominated leadership structures. These barriers also exist within layers of complex intersectionality, wherein factors such as race, class, nationality, gender, and education can impact the types of challenges that refugee leaders face. Recognizing the need for greater equality amongst refugee leaders, Dr. Kalyango advocated for increased support for female refugee leaders in both RLO and political spheres.������

In response to these points, Dr. Milner invited both lead researchers to reflect on what leadership means to refugees in both regions, as well as how scholars and policymakers abroad can reframe how they think about leadership in practice. From the conversation, it became increasingly clear that current conventional understandings of leadership fail to capture the diverse and entrepreneurial nature of refugee leadership. There is tremendous diversity in the way that leadership is pursued, engaged, and expressed, and it does not need to be formally organized or related to a political structure. Dr. Kalyango emphasized that in these spaces,��

“It was not about position of ‘I am a leader, I am the boss’, but they are looking at��what can they do about the problems that they are experiencing”.����

The discussion was furthered by valuable insights from Lublanc Prieto, Director of Fundación Refugiados Unidos, and Mohamed Hassan, research officer at the Refugee-Led Research Hub. Both panellists offered their own personal reflections on the research in conjunction with their own expertise and knowledge on refugee leadership. Culturally specific understandings of leadership, opportunities for collaboration both between and within refugee communities, and the entrenched systems of othering were key topics in this discussion. Each discussant also offered suggestions on how to address the barriers that limit effective refugee leadership. Central to these recommendations was the need for comprehensive capacity building. As Prieto emphasized, refugee leadership often emerges in informal spaces with limited resources, and leaders are continuously learning how to navigate the complex power dynamics while also serving their communities. Supporting refugee leadership thus requires going beyond traditional humanitarian programming and moving towards greater recognition for the social movements that emerge from refugee communities. It was further stressed that developing structures that allow for meaningful dialogue between refugee leaders and various actors is at the cornerstone of implementing meaningful refugee participation.����

Hassan added to this discussion by posing critical questions about whether refugee perspectives are prioritized and valued in formal policymaking settings. He emphasized the importance of addressing the tokenization and stigmatization that surrounds refugee leaders, and noted how meaningful participation means more than access to these spaces, but rather the chance for refugee leaders voices to be heard and influence decision making. He states that��

“It is good to have refugees because they bring legitimacy to the room, it is good that they are on board, but then their input and what they have to say is not really taken as a priority or is not really considered. It is something people do not see, they want the legitimacy that refugees bring to the table, but they are not necessarily interested in the input of the refugees themselves”.����

The Q&A session centered on mechanisms for accountability and transparency within organizations that support refugees, specifically in regard to how to track progress towards meaningful refugee participation and refugee leadership. Issues regarding inadequate funding, training programs, and reporting systems were discussed by the panellists as the primary pressure points in both regions, noting how political drawbacks and uncertainties may affect the future of ongoing projects. Dr. Lopez Villamil referred to this tension as the cycle of vulnerability that refugees face and highlighted how this is especially pertinent in South America where refugee leadership is still slowly emerging. Navigating a new country and unfamiliar systems may limit refugee leaders’ ability to compete for donor funding against larger humanitarian organizations, yet this does not negate the invaluable impact that they have.����

Despite facing structural and institutional limitations, the panellists discussed numerous instances wherein refugee leaders were mobilized as activists and agents of change. They concluded that the findings from the research project offered optimistic direction for redefining leadership and expressed their hopes that current understandings of the term can be expanded to become more inclusive of how refugee leaders learn, work, and elicit positive change.�� As emphasized throughout the discussion, meaningful refugee participation requires moving beyond tokenized representation and recognizing that refugee leadership differs from traditional conceptualizations. Shifting the power towards localized solutions means creating spaces where refugee leaders can have their voices included in decision-making processes that affect their communities.����

For more information about the research project, you can visit the webpage here.����

En Español

El 8 de febrero de 2025,�� el Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN) organizó un seminario web para presentar y debatir las conclusiones de un proyecto de investigación especial recientemente finalizado sobre las políticas y los procesos de liderazgo de los refugiados en el Sur Global, generosamente financiado por la , con especial atención a Sudamérica y África Oriental. El seminario atrajo a más de 100 participantes de 19 países. Los ponentes debatieron los resultados de un estudio comparativo de 18 meses de duración sobre las condiciones que permiten o limitan a los refugiados demostrar su liderazgo en las estructuras de poder locales, nacionales y regionales, y compartieron una amplia perspectiva sobre cómo creen que puede redefinirse el liderazgo en el contexto del desplazamiento y las soluciones locales en los países seleccionados del Sur global.����

El seminario web fue moderado por James Milner, que inició el debate con unas observaciones introductorias sobre el creciente interés de la investigación en la participación significativa de los refugiados y las organizaciones lideradas por refugiados en la última década. Reflexionó sobre el vacío existente en la bibliografía, que ha conceptualizado predominantemente el liderazgo de los refugiados desde la perspectiva del Norte Global, en particular en contextos de base humanitaria que pasan por alto formas de liderazgo de los refugiados a nivel local. Inspirado por los resultados de esta investigación, animó a los asistentes a aprovechar las presentaciones de los ponentes para reflexionar críticamente sobre cómo se define, entiende y moviliza el liderazgo.����

Stephanie López Villamil, investigadora principal del proyecto en Sudamérica, presentó los resultados de la investigación realizada en Chile y Colombia, en la que su equipo se centró en la dinámica del liderazgo entre las poblaciones desplazadas venezolana y haitiana. Destacó que los líderes y lideresas refugiadas no se veían necesariamente a sí mismos como líderes, sino más bien como un miembro más de la comunidad que intenta ayudar a los demás. A partir de ahí, señaló las diferencias sustanciales entre el liderazgo político convencional y las posiciones circunstanciales de liderazgo que asumen los refugiados cuando buscan soluciones a su difícil situación. El equipo de investigación sudamericano también descubrió que el género era un factor muy relevante en la autoidentificación del liderazgo, y la Dra. López Villamil compartió cómo las mujeres, especialmente en la comunidad venezolana, dudaban a la hora de referirse a sí mismas como lideresas. Su presentación concluyó con reflexiones sobre las condiciones que deben abordarse con el fin de fortalecer el liderazgo de los refugiados en el Sur Global, pidiendo un mayor apoyo psicosocial y de salud mental, la financiación directa a Organizaciones Lideradas por Refugiados – OLRs, el fortalecimiento de capacidades, y mayores oportunidades para la participación significativa de los refugiados. Sus poderosas palabras resonaron entre el público y sirvieron para recordar que los líderes y lideresas refugiadas son poderosos agentes de cambio:��

“Los líderes han surgido para responder a las necesidades de migrantes y refugiados, pero también como poderosas voces que impugnan las medidas restrictivas puestas en marcha por algunos gobiernos, por lo que, al defender sus derechos, son reconocidos por las comunidades de acogida como poderosos agentes que representan a migrantes y refugiados y sus necesidades.”����

Ronald Sebba Kalyango, investigador principal del proyecto en África Oriental, compartió a continuación las ideas de su equipo sobre la investigación realizada en Uganda y Kenia, centrada en el liderazgo de los refugiados en los contextos urbanos de Kampala y Nairobi, así como en los asentamientos de refugiados en Nakivale y Kakuma. La presentación del Dr. Kalyango hizo eco de la conversación anterior sobre cómo los refugiados se convierten en líderes buscando soluciones, compartiendo cómo muchos de los líderes refugiados en la región de África Oriental comienzan como activistas, intérpretes e investigadores que desean el cambio.����

“Lo que suele ocurrir con los líderes refugiados es que lo que les motiva es el deseo de provocar un cambio en sus comunidades, no tanto ser líderes o ser vistos o ser visibles o acceder a recursos, sino que suelen salir con el deseo de ver un cambio en sus comunidades“.����

Esta noción de liderazgo reafirmó hallazgos similares del grupo de investigación de Sudamérica, que también desafió las concepciones convencionales del liderazgo al observar a los refugiados en espacios más informales de defensa y movimientos sociales. A continuación, comparó los retos a los que se enfrentan los líderes refugiados en África Oriental con los de Sudamérica, estableciendo similitudes entre barreras como la simbolización, el precario estatus legal y las estructuras de liderazgo dominadas por los hombres. Estas barreras también existen dentro de capas de compleja interseccionalidad, en las que factores como la raza, la clase, la nacionalidad, el género y la educación pueden influir en los tipos de retos a los que se enfrentan los líderes refugiados. Reconociendo la necesidad de una mayor igualdad entre los líderes refugiados, el Dr. Kalyango abogó por un mayor apoyo a las mujeres líderes refugiadas tanto en el ámbito de las OLRs como en el político.����

En respuesta a estos puntos, el Dr. Milner invitó a ambos investigadores principales a reflexionar sobre lo que significa el liderazgo para los refugiados en ambas regiones, así como sobre la forma en que los académicos y los responsables políticos en el extranjero pueden replantearse su forma de pensar sobre el liderazgo en la práctica. A partir de la conversación, quedó cada vez más claro que las concepciones convencionales actuales del liderazgo no logran captar la naturaleza diversa y emprendedora del liderazgo de los refugiados. Hay una enorme diversidad en la forma en que el liderazgo se persigue, se compromete y se expresa, y no necesita estar formalmente organizado o relacionado con una estructura política. El Dr. Kalyango subrayó que, en estos espacios,��

“No se trataba de la posición de ‘yo soy un líder, yo soy el jefe’, sino que están��qué pueden hacer ante los problemas que sufren”.����

El debate se enriqueció con los valiosos aportes de Lublanc Prieto, Directora de la Fundación Refugiados Unidos, y Mohamed Hassan, investigador del Refugee-Led Research Hub. Ambos ponentes ofrecieron sus reflexiones personales sobre la investigación, junto con su propia experiencia y conocimientos sobre el liderazgo de los refugiados. Los temas clave de este debate fueron las interpretaciones culturalmente específicas del liderazgo, las oportunidades de colaboración entre las comunidades de refugiados y dentro de ellas, y los arraigados sistemas de exclusión. Cada ponente ofreció también sugerencias sobre cómo abordar las barreras que limitan el liderazgo efectivo de los refugiados. En el centro de estas recomendaciones se encontraba la necesidad de un desarrollo integral de las capacidades. Como subrayó Prieto, el liderazgo de los refugiados suele surgir en espacios informales con recursos limitados, y los líderes aprenden continuamente a navegar por las complejas dinámicas de poder al tiempo que sirven a sus comunidades. Apoyar el liderazgo de los refugiados exige, por tanto, ir más allá de los programas humanitarios tradicionales y avanzar hacia un mayor reconocimiento de los movimientos sociales que surgen de las comunidades de refugiados. Además, se hizo hincapié en que el desarrollo de estructuras que permitan un diálogo significativo entre los líderes y lideresas de los refugiados y los diversos actores es la piedra angular de la aplicación de una participación significativa de los refugiados.����

Hassan se sumó a este debate planteando cuestiones críticas sobre si se priorizan y valoran las perspectivas de los refugiados en los entornos formales de formulación de políticas. Hizo hincapié en la importancia de abordar la �ٴǰ��Ծ���������ó�� y estigmatización que rodea a los líderes refugiados, y señaló que una participación significativa va más allá del acceso a estos espacios, siendo más bien la oportunidad de que las voces de los líderes refugiados sean escuchadas e influyan en la toma de decisiones. Afirma que��

“Es bueno tener refugiados porque aportan legitimidad a la sala, es bueno que estén a bordo, pero luego su aporte y lo que tienen que decir no se toma realmente como una prioridad o no se tiene realmente en cuenta. Es algo que la gente no ve, quieren la legitimidad que los refugiados aportan a la mesa, pero no están necesariamente interesados en el aporte de los propios refugiados”��

La sesión de preguntas y respuestas se centró en los mecanismos de rendición de cuentas y transparencia de las organizaciones que apoyan a los refugiados. En concreto sobre cómo hacer un seguimiento de los avances hacia una participación y un liderazgo significativos de los refugiados. Los panelistas debatieron cuestiones relativas a la financiación inadecuada, los programas de formación y los sistemas de información como principales puntos de presión en ambas regiones, y señalaron cómo los inconvenientes y las incertidumbres políticas pueden afectar al futuro de los proyectos en curso. La Dra. López Villamil se refirió a esta tensión como el ciclo de vulnerabilidad al que se enfrentan los refugiados y destacó cómo esto es especialmente pertinente en Sudamérica, donde el liderazgo de los refugiados aún está emergiendo lentamente. Navegar por un nuevo país y por sistemas desconocidos puede limitar la capacidad de los líderes y lideresas refugiadas para competir por la financiación de los donantes con organizaciones humanitarias más grandes, pero esto no niega el inestimable impacto que tienen.����

A pesar de enfrentarse a limitaciones estructurales e institucionales, los ponentes debatieron numerosos casos en los que los líderes refugiados se movilizaron como activistas y agentes del cambio. Llegaron a la conclusión de que los resultados del proyecto de investigación ofrecían una orientación optimista para redefinir el liderazgo y expresaron su esperanza de que la interpretación actual del término pueda ampliarse para incluir en mayor medida la forma en que los líderes refugiados aprenden, trabajan y generan cambios positivos.�� Como se subrayó a lo largo del debate, la participación significativa de los refugiados exige ir más allá de la representación simbólica y reconocer que el liderazgo de los refugiados difiere de las conceptualizaciones tradicionales. Desplazar el poder hacia soluciones localizadas significa crear espacios en los que los líderes refugiados puedan hacer oír su voz en los procesos de toma de decisiones que afectan a sus comunidades��

Para más información sobre el proyecto de investigación, puede visitar la página web �����í.����

��

By Brianna Parent Long, �Ӱ�ԭ�� 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:

DOI��

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Citation��

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

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!

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.”

On December 14 and 15, 2021, the first High-Level Officials Meeting (HLOM) of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) took stock of the progress made since the first Global Refugee Forum (GRF) held two years prior. While the in-person HLOM was held in Geneva, Switzerland, the event also made provisions for a hybrid virtual space for participants (partners and stakeholders of the GCR) to share content relating to the progress made thus far.

Per the HLOM 2021 theme of “reflecting progress and charting the future,” LERRN submitted the following video to the Virtual Platform, which focuses on LERRN’s work to achieve localization and refugee participation in the field of forced migration research.

Abdikadir Bare Abikar, Member of the Dadaab Response Association, Graduate of the Master of Education, York University Borderless Higher Education for Refugees Program

Executive Summary

This paper is a modified version of a Major Research Paper for the Master of Education degree at York University as part of the Borderless Higher Education for Refugees project, which provides virtual education to refugees in the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya. In this paper, I employ an action research methodology to argue that, in order to improve the capacity of novice and untrained teachers in schools in the Dadaab refugee complex, local educational actors need to introduce in-service professional learning opportunities to better prepare teachers who have not had the chance to pursue educational opportunities past their secondary studies. The purpose of this study was to first listen and learn from the experiences of employees at Hareed Primary School and to investigate the in-service education needed by untrained teachers in a refugee camp in Dadaab. Phase one of the research was a pre-workshop survey that asked participants questions about any educational training they have received, and their challenges. Phase two involved developing and implementing workshops for novice/untrained educators that modelled how a professional learning community works, and provided modified BHER teacher educational content for new/untrained teachers. Phase three of my study evaluated the impact of the workshops on the development of professional learning communities and if teacher attitudes or behaviors were transformed. My analysis of the data found that the professional learning community improved teacher confidence and positively changed dispositions toward collaboration and ongoing community-driven learning, as well as improved use of technology tools in and outside of the classroom. I conclude with recommendations for present policy and future research within Dadaab and beyond. I think some obvious challenges facing the PLC’s sustainability will be that some of the teachers have been working with minimal administrative supervision. I fear that if the school does not support their continued collaboration, the community may not continue to fully coordinate and cooperate, which would cause the collapse of the professional learning community that we developed. The first recommendation is that the school administration supports the Professional Learning Community to ensure its sustainability. Given the positive impact of this community, I strongly support the idea that other schools should organize similar continual in-service training in the Dadaab camps, using as an untapped resource the teachers that have already been trained at Hareed and the qualified refugee teachers who have been educated in the BHER project, and who now understand the power of creating professional learning communities to empower teachers.

Read the full Working Paper here:

View the full LERRN Working Paper Series here:

DOI

Citation

Abikar, A. B. (2020). Building Local Professional Learning Communities with and for Teachers in Refugee Camps – A Case Study on Hareed Primary School in Dadaab. Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN).