The RSRI Reaffirms Commitment to Helping Refugees Rebuild Their Lives
Statement on 2024 U.S. Presidential Election Results
Since 2018, the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative (RSRI) has aspired to transform the way the world responds to refugees and other forcibly displaced populations. We aim to create a future where the journey from displacement to self-reliance is accelerated and marked by dignity, opportunity, and inclusion. Following the results of Tuesday's elections in the U.S., our commitment to expanding opportunities for refugees and other forcibly displaced populations is stronger than ever.
The RSRI has always convened a global and inclusive network of NGOs, refugee-led and community-based organizations, governments, funders, private sector institutions, academics, think tanks, UN agencies, and other multilateral actors that believe refugees deserve the opportunity to support themselves and their families, exercise their rights, and contribute to the social and economic fabric of their host countries. What began as a handful of like-minded agencies assembled during the last Trump administration has grown into a network of 250+ organizations representing stakeholders in more than 50 countries worldwide. While the results of this election will undoubtedly shape our path forward, we are prepared, as we have always been, to respond to new opportunities and challenges as a diverse, global collective.
We recognize the critical role the RSRI plays as a global convener, thought leader, and resource hub on self-reliance and, therefore, remain dedicated to creating a safe space for the exchange of diverse perspectives. With the upcoming political transition in the U.S., we welcome an open dialogue on how we, as a global community, can continue to advance self-reliance opportunities for refugees. As such, we will continue to amplify our members' work in critical areas of policy, practice, and research while advancing the knowledge, tools, standards, and legal frameworks that support self-reliance.
We also recognize the critical role that the U.S. government plays in advancing self-reliance globally. We hope to partner with the next presidential administration and Congress to uphold this shared mandate and ensure that opportunities for refugee self-reliance continue to grow worldwide.
Together with governments, leaders, and our broader global community, the RSRI will continue to build bridges and connections that support and uplift refugees and other forcibly displaced populations to become self-reliant and achieve their goals.
