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)