Refugee leadership: how do we move from talk to action?

To mark Refugee Week, we highlighting the transformational impact that refugee leadership and expertise can bring to refugee responses.

The importance of refugee leadership is now widely recognised. It is a key focus of the Global Compact on Refugees, which pledges to support refugee-led organisations (RLOs) and enable meaningful participation.

But is this rhetoric materialising into practical action on the ground? Is refugee leadership taken seriously at an international level? Why is there a gap between theoretical pledges and tangible support? And what needs to happen now to strengthen refugee leadership and drive meaningful change?

Experts from some of the world’s leading refugee-led organisations discuss the opportunities and challenges they face.

Speakers

• Sara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODI
• Rez Gardi, international lawyer, human rights advocate & Co-Managing Director of Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table (R-SEAT)
• Jean Marie Ishimwe, refugee advocate, journalist, and Partnerships Lead & Co-Founder At Youth Voices Community
• Anila Noor, refugee activist, speaker, researcher and Founder of New Women Connectors

Related resources

• What do Europeans really think about migrants? (ODI podcast)
• To address complex refugee problems, the refugee regime should be accountable to the population it serves (ODI blog)
• Refugees and IDPs need to be included in public services, how do we do this in practice? (ODI blog)