In a time where forced displacement is at an unsurpassed high, self-reliance programming is more needed than ever to help refugees, communities, and host countries thrive. At the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative, we are prioritizing the importance of evidence, programming, and advocacy to help refugees and other forcibly displaced populations thrive with lives of dignity in their new countries.

2022 was filled with immense growth for the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative. We were able to reach over 5,700 refugees with our Self-Reliance Index, grow our Community of Practice to 264 members from across the sector, establish our inaugural steering committee, hire our first full-time employees to carry forth this vital work, and more.

As we reflect on all that we have achieved, we recognize one common thread among our successes: we could not have done any of this without the support and hard work of our partners. Whether you are a funder, practitioner, policymaker, academic, researcher, or supporter – we are profoundly grateful for all that you do.

SELF-RELIANCE INDEX

Our Self-Reliance Index (SRI) is the first-ever global tool for measuring the progress of refugee households toward self-reliance.

The RSRI’s Self-Reliance Index has expanded to reach over 11,100 households since its launch in 2020, with 5,773 households reached in 2022.

RSRI also expanded the use of the Self-Reliance Index to an additional 23 partners in 17 countries in 2022, reaching 39 partners in 25 countries.

Once organizations choose to use the Self-Reliance Index, the RSRI continues to provide training and technical support. Throughout the year, we provided this support to 28 organizations.

The RSRI put out two new resources on the tool, including:

• Conceptual Framework

• Cycle 2 Learning Review

The Self-Reliance Index team also conducted a known user group comparison exercise in Jordan, with partner organization Sitti. Information garnered from the trip was used to further refine the tool and use of the tool in camp settings.

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

Our Community of Practice (CoP) is a network of professionals engaged in supporting refugee self-reliance, as well as those that consider themselves an advocate for the socio-economic inclusion and self-reliance of refugees through their work.

In 2022, our CoP was comprised of 264 individuals from 116 organizations. The group met five times throughout the course of the year, and heard important presentations and updates on RSRI and other organizations, including:

• COHERE

• The Future with Wakimbizi

• HIAS

• Refugee Access to Work Rights 

• Savings Groups in Emergencies

• Sitti Social Enterprise

• University of Virginia’s Humanitarian Collaborative

POLICY & ADVOCACY

The Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative had the opportunity to participate in several opportunities related to policy and advocacy over the year.

In 2022, we:

Co-convened a group of experts with the US State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) for three innovation labs discussing refugee self-reliance, which led to the publication of a learning brief and a joint statement at the High Commissioner’s Dialogue