The Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative is a collaboration among NGOs, UNHCR, foundations, government agencies, the private sector and others that aim to help refugees achieve a better quality of life and regain agency over their finances and futures, while at the same time supporting the peace, stability and prosperity goals of the hosting countries.
 

The Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative is focused on promoting self-reliance, including increasing access to education, employment and leadership opportunities for refugees around the world to resume lives of dignity and hope, even during protracted periods of legal limbo in their host countries.

At the Better Lives Now: Leveraging Refugees’ Talents event, the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative will announce its ambitious goal of reaching five million refugees in five years with self-reliance programming. Better Lives Now is intended to build on and respond to the Global Compact on Refugees, which will be considered for adoption by member states during the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly. Both the New York Declaration and the final draft of the GCR include ‘enhancing self-reliance’ for refugees as an objective.

Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative Leadership

Initiative Co-Chairs:

Dale Buscher, Senior Director for Programs, Women’s Refugee Commission

Amy Slaughter, Chief Strategy Officer, RefugePoint

Initiative Lead:

Kellie Leeson, Lead consultant, Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative