Refugee Leadership in South America and East Africa
Table of Contents
The Politics and Process of Refugee Leadership: A Comparative Analysis of Factors Conditioning Refugee Leadership in Global South
This 18-month comparative study on the politics and process of refugee leadership in the global South, with a specific focus on South America and East Africa is generously supported by the Gerda Henkel Foundation.
This research is a collaboration between R-SEAT (Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table) and LERRN (the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network), with the active cooperation of the RLRH (Refugee-led Research Hub) in East Africa and CAPRS (the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies) in the Asia Pacific region. The project builds on LERRN’s recent work with its partners on the impact of refugee-led organizations in East Africa and the Middle East, and seeks to inform research, policy and practice on the conditions that enable or constrain refugees from demonstrating leadership in navigating local, national and regional power structures to influence the development and implementation of policy and programmes intended to affect the daily lives of refugees.
This 18-month project will emphasize the active and equal participation of researchers with lived experience of displacement in developing the research methodology, conducting research, producing knowledge, and mobilizing knowledge to influence research, policy and practice.
Study Reports
South America Study Report: “The Politics and Processes of Refugee Leadership”
Informe del estudio sobre Sudamérica «La política y el proceso del liderazgo de los refugiados»
East Africa Study Report: “The Politics and Processes of Refugee Leadership”
Synthesis Report: Refugee-Led Responses and Agency in East Africa, the Middle East, and South America
Relevant Events and Publications
On February 6, 2025, Gerda Henkel Foundation and LERRN hosted a webinar called The Politics and Process of Refugee Leadership: A Comparative Analysis of Factors Conditioning Refugee Leadership in Global South.
Learn from our research teams on their findings of the 18-month comparative study on the politics and process of refugee leadership in the global South, with a specific focus on South America and East Africa. The research study is generously supported by the Gerda Henkel Foundation and facilitated by LERRN, Carleton University.
Advancing South-South Strategic Dialogue on Refugee Leadership
On 15 December 2025, LERRN and R-SEAT co-hosted a panel discussion at R-Space in Geneva on the theme “Building Bridges Across Regions: Refugee-Led Dialogue Between …
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 …
Blog Post: Gender equality – More than just a women’s issue
by Lavender Mboya “These displacements have made the people very vulnerable and especially the men, our most vulnerable people, although when you go to the organization …
Fieldwork Notes: Research with Migrant and Refugee Leaders
Takeaways From the Fieldwork in Chile and Colombia by Constanza Lobos, Stephanie López Villamil As part of the project “The Politics and Process of Refugee Leadership: …
Blog Post: Voices of Resilience. Inspiration and Challenges of Refugee Leadership in Kakuma
by Pascal Zigashane, LERRN Research Associate, Executive Director at Action pour le Progres (CBO) This blog builds on findings from the LERRN study “The Politics …
Webinar Report – The Politics and Process of Refugee Leadership: A Comparative Analysis of Factors Conditioning Refugee Leadership in Global South
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 …
In the latest blog Pascal Zigashane explores the motivations that drive refugees to take on leadership roles in Kakuma refugee camp, highlighting gaps in humanitarian services as a key factor. The author emphasizes the vital role refugee leaders play in camp settings and urges readers to critically reflect on the barriers including entrenched tokenism that hinder their meaningful participation in influencing decisions that directly affect their lives. The blog calls on national and international communities to meaningfully embrace refugee leadership as a pathway to practical solutions in protracted refugee situations.
Research Teams
South America Team
Stephanie López Villamil
- Gerda Henkel Foundation Scholarship Recipient; South America Project Lead Researcher
- Email Stephanie
East Africa Team
Ronald Sebba Kalyango
- Gerda Henkel Foundation Scholarship Recipient; East Africa Project Lead Researcher
- Email Ronald Sebba
Andrew Sajja
Pascal Zigashane
- Research Associate — Kakuma, Kenya