New Report Published – Refugee-Led Responses and Agency in East Africa, the Middle East, and South America
We are pleased to announce the release of the new synthesis report titled Refugee-Led Responses and Agency in East Africa, the Middle East, and South America, prepared by Stephanie Lopez Villamil. The report brings together findings from two major LERRN research projects conducted between 2020–2025, examining refugee-led organizations (RLOs) and refugee leadership across East Africa, the Middle East, and South America.
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:
Synthesis report: Refugee-led Responses and Agency in East Africa, the Middle East, and South America
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 R-Space @ The GRF Progress Review 2025.
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.