RLO-Led Insights Fund

RLO-Led Insights Fund is sponsored by Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSRI). Supports refugee-led organizations in conducting research to enhance self-reliance among refugees.

RLO-Led Insights Fund — Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative The RLO-Led Insights Fund aims to promote and elevate refugee-led research and refugee perspectives in building the self-reliance evidence base. Refugees often face numerous challenges in achieving self-reliance in host countries.

Yet, recent findings from the RSRI Self-Reliance Evidence Review indicate that refugee voices are not adequately represented in existing research publications and knowledge-generation activities.

In response to this critical gap and in line with the RSRI's commitment to learning and innovation, the RSRI launched the RLO-Led Insights Fund, which aims to empower refugee-led initiatives to generate valuable insights, knowledge, and practical solutions related to refugee self-reliance.

The inaugural round of funding was disbursed in September 2024 to four Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) that participated in recent RLO Learning Exchanges co-hosted by the RSRI in Kenya , Uganda , and Ethiopia. Each organization was awarded a three-month, $5,000 USD innovation grant to pilot research on a focused topic that contributes to the RSRI Learning Agenda around refugee self-reliance.

The 2024 RLO-Led Insights Fund grant recipients were: Ethio Friends Foundation for Refugees (EFFR) | Ethiopia Ubuntu Youth Organization (UYO) | Kenya Youth Voices Community (YVC) | Kenya Refugee Entrepreneurship Association Limited (REAL) | Uganda On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, the RSRI hosted a special learning call to learn more about the RLO-Led Insights Fund.

Representatives from each recipient RLO presented the results of their research projects to the broader RSRI network.

WATCH THE RECORDING BELOW: Ethio Friends Foundation for Refugees (EFFR) EFFR’s project, Raising Refugees’ Legal Awareness on “Ethiopia Labor Law for Refugees,” on the Theme of “Let Your Voice of Success Get Heard,” aimed to: Identify the economic challenges refugees encounter in the Ethiopia labor market; and Empower refugees with information and knowledge on labor laws in order to increase their level of awareness of their rights and responsibilities and protect them from exploitation.

Over the three-month grant period, EFFR helped refugees in Addis Ababa better understand local laws and regulations to protect themselves from future exploitation and injustice. The project began with focus group discussions with 30 refugees from Burundi, Congo, Eritrea, South Sudan, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Syria.

EFFR then created a Telegram channel to unite these refugees from diverse backgrounds and disseminate information on refugee labor laws in their native languages. This platform helped foster a sense of community and provided a safe space for advocacy and support.

EFFR also held a training on Ethiopian labor laws for refugees and gave refugees a platform to express their voices, develop their skills, and contribute to their own livelihoods and the well-being of their communities. Ultimately, EFFR’s project equipped refugees with the knowledge and skills they needed to advocate for their rights, make informed decisions, and improve their living conditions.

The project culminated in the production of three short videos highlighting the project’s activities and refugees’ right to work, as well as a series of creative posters designed by refugees that showcase their perspectives and promote their rights.

Ubuntu Youth Organization (UYO) UYO’s project, Voices of Resilience: Refugee Experiences and Self-Sustainability in Urban Nairobi, Focus on Camp Status and Livelihood Strategies , aimed to: Identify and understand the factors influencing the living arrangement of refugees with camp status in urban Nairobi; Measure the challenges faced by refugees in urban settings, including access to education, employment, and humanitarian assistance; Achieve a comprehensive understanding of refugee strategies for self-sustainability in Nairobi; and Provide evidence-based recommendations to improve support systems for refugees in urban areas.

Ubuntu Youth Organization (UYO) workshop with Congolese, Rwandese, South Sudanese, and Burundian refugees in the Kawangware neighborhood of Nairobi, Kenya. Over the three-month grant period, UYO sought to answer the following research questions: Why do some refugees with camp status decide not to reside in the camp and instead choose to live in urban Nairobi? Similarly, why do some refugees in the camp leave and come to urban Nairobi?

What challenges do these refugees face, and what strategies have they implemented to overcome them? What approaches are they using to provide for their families, send their children to school, get jobs, and achieve self-reliance?

The project was oriented around focus group discussions with 193 refugee participants from four key neighborhoods in Nairobi that were selected for their significant refugee populations and different nationalities: Kawangware, Kasarani, Kitengela, and Eastleigh.

After interviewing refugees from each community, UYO identified five major reasons behind the refusal of refugees with camp status to go to their designated camps: Medical issues/conditions UYO also identified that refugees with camp status living in urban Nairobi face multiple challenges, including arrest by either the police or Nairobi County officers for lack of proper documents, inability to register a SIM card or open a bank account, lack of assistance from refugee support organizations, and workplace discrimination and exploitation.

However, UYO also identified solutions to these challenges, including joining chamas (self-help/micro-savings groups), seeking assistance from Nairobi-based RLOs or urban refugee community leaders, and working informal jobs on construction sites or cleaning homes. Members of the Ubuntu Youth Organization (UYO) team in their office in Nairobi, Kenya.

The project culminated in a report with a series of infographics that combine compelling visuals, data points, quotes from participants, and key takeaways to present the information in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format.

Youth Voices Community (YVC) YVC’s project, Strength in Diversity: Building Independence for Differently-Abled Refugees , aimed to: Identify the most pressing needs and challenges faced by urban refugees with disabilities living in Nairobi in terms of livelihoods, access to services, and social inclusion; Assess the existing support systems and gaps in service provision; and Explore the specific barriers preventing refugees with disabilities from achieving self-reliance.

Members of the Youth Voices Community (YVC) team at their office in Nairobi, Kenya. Over the three-month grant period, YVC employed a mixed-methods research design, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

They conducted interviews with refugees with disabilities and caregivers, administered surveys to 22 individuals, including community leaders, community members, and YVC members, and held focus group discussions with approximately 40 participants. To analyze the data and interpret the findings, YVC used both quantitative (statistical analysis) and qualitative (thematic analysis) methods.

YVC’s research revealed several challenges faced by urban refugees with disabilities living in Nairobi, including: Barriers to services like healthcare, education, and employment due to systemic discrimination and lack of inclusive policies; Social exclusion related to stigmatization and cultural misconceptions about disabilities; Gaps in support systems related to financial aid and specialized services; and A lack of employment opportunities and vocational training for differently-abled refugees.

These challenges highlighted the need for: More inclusive policies that address the unique challenges faced by refugees with disabilities; Greater awareness and advocacy efforts to change societal perceptions and foster an inclusive environment; The development of specialized programs focused on education, vocational training, and healthcare access for differently-abled refugees; and Additional research to assess the evolving needs of refugees with disabilities and improve service delivery.

The project ultimately culminated in the production of a short documentary film to visually represent the experiences of urban refugees with disabilities and support broader advocacy efforts. YVC’s research underscores the urgent need for comprehensive, multi-sectoral interventions to support urban refugees with disabilities.

By fostering an inclusive environment and implementing targeted programs, we can enhance the self-reliance and well-being of refugees with disabilities in Nairobi.

Refugee Entrepreneurship Association Limited (REAL) REAL’s project, Accessing the Contribution of Social Economic Interventions towards Building Self-Reliance of Refugees in Uganda , aimed to: Examine the relevance and effectiveness of prospects for sustainability in building refugee self-reliance; Document facts on beneficiary experience and concerns about the various refugee response interventions and contributions towards building self-reliance in Uganda; and Understand the socio-economic inclusion gaps and concerns related to achieving self-reliance.

Over the three-month grant period, REAL conducted approximately 50 individual respondent interviews across Kampala, Isingiro, and various refugee settlements and 10 key informant interviews with district leaders, camp commandants, RLO leaders, and REF members. REAL also held 12 focus group discussions with refugees of mixed nationalities living in the Rhino camp and Palorinya settlements.

REAL’s research revealed the following findings: 88% of those in urban settings need capital finance through grants and soft loans to improve their businesses for self-sufficiency and employment. Vocational education and skill training should be accompanied by start-up funds or kits, business management, record keeping, etc., as this enables refugees to establish themselves for employment more quickly.

Development partners should consider designs that ensure complementary pathways and job linkages to related businesses. This will significantly enhance the employability of refugees, which is a critical component of self-reliance. Refugees should be integrated into the planning processes of response programs.

This can be done through participatory planning processes, empowering refugees to become part of the response rather than only aid receivers. Programs should focus on economic empowerment and entrepreneurship training to build the capacity of refugees to work and independently build their businesses. REAL’s project culminated in two short videos featuring quotes and reactions from key informants and focus group discussion members.

The RSRI team would like to thank all refugee-led organizations that submitted proposals for this pilot round of funding! We hope to expand this grant opportunity in future years and find other ways to collaborate and grow the refugee-led evidence base around self-reliance.

Organizations: Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies , Publication Year: 2025 , Resource Type: Academic , Tags: Economic Inclusion , Tags: Capacity Building , Tags: Social Inclusion , Tags: Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellbeing , Theme: Impact , Population: Refugees , Tags: Urban , Region: East Africa “It Has Been a Breath of Fresh Air” Participants’ Perception of the Impact of Self-Reliance Intervention Among Urban Refugees Organizations: Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies , Publication Year: 2025 , Resource Type: Academic , Tags: Economic Inclusion , Tags: Capacity Building , Tags: Social Inclusion , Tags: Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellbeing , Theme: Impact , Population: Refugees , Tags: Urban , Region: East Africa Publishing Organizations: Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies Authors: Habiba Ibrahim; Jacinta Mutie; Mohamed Ibrahim; Anna Marie Ronning; Makayla Gille Organizations: Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies , Publication Year: 2025 , Resource Type: Academic , Tags: Economic Inclusion , Tags: Capacity Building , Tags: Social Inclusion , Tags: Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellbeing , Theme: Impact , Population: Refugees , Tags: Urban , Region: East Africa Organizations: Cambridge University Press , Country: Uganda , Tags: Food Aid , Tags: Disability Inclusion , Theme: Policy , Resource Type: Academic , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2022 , Organizations: International African Institute ‘The Food Is Not Enough’: Disability and Food Aid Technologies in a Ugandan Refugee Settlement Organizations: Cambridge University Press , Country: Uganda , Tags: Food Aid , Tags: Disability Inclusion , Theme: Policy , Resource Type: Academic , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2022 , Organizations: International African Institute Publishing Organizations: Cambridge University Press on behalf of the International African Institute Authors: Maria-Theres Schuler Organizations: Cambridge University Press , Country: Uganda , Tags: Food Aid , Tags: Disability Inclusion , Theme: Policy , Resource Type: Academic , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2022 , Organizations: International African Institute Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Policy , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2025 , Tags: Humanitarian-Development Nexus , Tags: Protection , Tags: Social Inclusion ‘Managing’ the Paradox: Refugee Self-Reliance and Solving the Problem of Refugee Policy Discontinuity Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Policy , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2025 , Tags: Humanitarian-Development Nexus , Tags: Protection , Tags: Social Inclusion Publishing Organizations: The Journal of Refugee Studies Authors: Judith Kohlenberger, Charles Martin-Shields, Evan Easton-Calabria Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Policy , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2025 , Tags: Humanitarian-Development Nexus , Tags: Protection , Tags: Social Inclusion Resource Type: Policy , Resource Type: Programmatic , Theme: Policy , Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2011 , Organizations: UNHCR , Tags: Urban , Tags: Health , Tags: Protection , Tags: Humanitarian-Development Nexus Ensuring Access to Health Care: Operational Guidance on Refugee Protection and Solutions in Urban Areas Resource Type: Policy , Resource Type: Programmatic , Theme: Policy , Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2011 , Organizations: UNHCR , Tags: Urban , Tags: Health , Tags: Protection , Tags: Humanitarian-Development Nexus Publishing Organizations: UNHCR Resource Type: Policy , Resource Type: Programmatic , Theme: Policy , Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2011 , Organizations: UNHCR , Tags: Urban , Tags: Health , Tags: Protection , Tags: Humanitarian-Development Nexus Resource Type: Policy , Resource Type: Programmatic , Theme: Policy , Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , publication year: 2023 , Organization: WHO , Tags: Health , Tags: Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellbeing Mental Health of Refugees and Migrants: Risk and Protective Factors and Access to Care Resource Type: Policy , Resource Type: Programmatic , Theme: Policy , Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , publication year: 2023 , Organization: WHO , Tags: Health , Tags: Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellbeing Publishing Organizations: WHO Resource Type: Policy , Resource Type: Programmatic , Theme: Policy , Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , publication year: 2023 , Organization: WHO , Tags: Health , Tags: Mental Health & Psychosocial Wellbeing Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Programming , Publication Year: 2025 , Country: United States , Tags: Education , Organizations: Prevention Science A Scoping Review of Strategies to Increase Newcomer Family Access to Early Childhood Services Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Programming , Publication Year: 2025 , Country: United States , Tags: Education , Organizations: Prevention Science Publishing Organizations: Prevention Science Authors: Elly Miles; Erin Doyle; Soumita Bose; Hamutal Bernstein Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Programming , Publication Year: 2025 , Country: United States , Tags: Education , Organizations: Prevention Science Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Policy , Theme: Impact , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2021 , Tags: Education The Promise of Refugee Lifelong Education: A Critical Review of the Field Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Policy , Theme: Impact , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2021 , Tags: Education Publishing Organizations: International Review of Education Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Policy , Theme: Impact , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2021 , Tags: Education Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Impact , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2020 , Country: Uganda , Tags: Education , Organization: American Association for Adult and Continuing Education Situating Adult Learning and Education in Refugee Livelihood Adaptation and Progression Toward Self-Reliance: The Case of Refugees in the Kyaka II Settlement in Southwestern Uganda Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Impact , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2020 , Country: Uganda , Tags: Education , Organization: American Association for Adult and Continuing Education Publishing Organizations: American Association for Adult and Continuing Education Authors: Salome Joy Awidi and Kofi Quan-Baffour Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Impact , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2020 , Country: Uganda , Tags: Education , Organization: American Association for Adult and Continuing Education Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , Population: Children & Youth , Publication Year: 2024 , Country: Kenya , Tags: Education Determinants of Urban Refugee Youths Self-Reliance, in Nairobi City County, Kenya Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , Population: Children & Youth , Publication Year: 2024 , Country: Kenya , Tags: Education Publishing Organizations: EdinBurg Peer Reviewed Journals and Books Publishers | Journal of Public Policy & Governance Authors: Wambugu Iddah Wangui; Dr. Heather Eddah Kipchumba Resource Type: Academic , Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , Population: Children & Youth , Publication Year: 2024 , Country: Kenya , Tags: Education Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2025 , Country: Thailand , Country: Myanmar , Tags: Education , Organizations: International Journal of Educational Development From Liminality to Self-Reliance: Refugee Teachers’ Roles and Practices During Protracted Uncertainties Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2025 , Country: Thailand , Country: Myanmar , Tags: Education , Organizations: International Journal of Educational Development Publishing Organizations: International Journal of Educational Development Theme: Programming , Population: Refugees , Publication Year: 2025 , Country: Thailand , Country: Myanmar , Tags: Education , Organizations: International Journal of Educational Development The Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSRI) is a multi-stakeholder collaboration that promotes opportunities for refugees around the world to become self-reliant and achieve a better quality of life, while simultaneously advocating for the full enjoyment of their rights.