RLO-LED INSIGHTS FUND
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:
Join the RSRI for a special learning call on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM EAT to learn more about the RLO-Led Insights Fund! Representatives from each recipient RLO will present the results of their research projects to the broader RSRI network.
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:
Family reunification
Medical issues/conditions
Education
Insecurity
Work/employment
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.
Join the RSRI for a special learning call on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM EAT to learn more about the RLO-Led Insights Fund! Representatives from each recipient RLO will present the results of their research projects to the broader RSRI network.
