LERRN

On 12 September 2025, LERRN 2.0 concluded its three-day launch in Ottawa with a panel discussion titled “Towards a New Response to Forced Migration.” Read the event report: carleton.ca/lerrn/2025/eve… Watch the panel discussion: youtu.be/ROXVQDJLsTc

The new R-SEAT reflection note, “Beyond Presence: Who Shapes Decisions in Global Refugee Governance?,” invites dialogue and reflection about how refugee participation is being implemented and where further progress is needed. Read the full reflection: static1.squarespace.com/static/6548c4e…

📢 New Resource R-SEAT is proud to share our new Reflection Note: “Beyond Presence: Who Shapes Decisions in Global Refugee Governance?” Following the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review in December 2025, this note goes beyond a conventional assessment and raises guiding questions for stakeholders across the refugee response on who participates, who influences decisions, and what meaningful participation should look like in practice. This reflection also serves as a precursor to an upcoming report, which will build on these insights and complement our GRF 2023 report, “We were seen, but were we heard?” Read the note on our website: static1.squarespace.com/static/6548c4e…

Coming next month… stay tuned for details…. mqup.ca/Books/C/Canada…

Are you a refugee ready to continue your studies? You can apply for a fully funded Master’s scholarship in Italy through the University Corridors for Refugees (UNICORE). 🗓 Deadline: 17 April 2026 Apply here: universitycorridors.unhcr.it @ItalyinUganda @cooperazione_it

🚨 RLOs are doing critical frontline work, yet funding keeps shrinking. Hear from Robert Tigrera, Asociación Lluvia de Arcoiris, on how funding cuts are impacting their work, limiting their ability to deliver timely support, and his recommendations on the key actions needed to reverse this trend. #RefugeeLeadership #RLOs #MeaningfulRefugeeParticipation #FundingCuts #ForeignAid

Today marks the anniversary of my family’s resettlement to New Zealand after nearly a decade as refugees in Pakistan — a moment that fundamentally changed the trajectory of our lives. Resettlement is more than a humanitarian gesture. It is an investment in human potential. Millions of refugees still live in limbo for years, even decades, without rights, stability, or a real chance to rebuild. Refugees do not want to be trapped in cycles of dependency. What we want — and what we need — is a genuine chance to rebuild our lives. When refugees are given access to education and employment, they do not only rebuild their own futures. They contribute meaningfully to the societies that generously host them — economically, socially, and culturally. This is not charity; it is shared progress. On this anniversary, I am deeply grateful to UNHCR for providing protection, and to New Zealand for offering us a new beginning. At the same time, I am mindful of the many who are still waiting, still in limbo, and still without a durable solution in sight. Global responsibility must go beyond emergency response. It must include expanding pathways, strengthening resettlement, and investing in long-term solutions that enable refugees to rebuild with dignity, agency, and hope. This is not only the right thing to do; it is a win-win for all. @Refugees

📢Call for Applications: UNHCR Innovation Fellowship Are you passionate about finding new ways to address challenges facing displaced communities? The UNHCR Innovation Fellowship helps colleagues and partners build practical innovation skills and apply new approaches in their work. Fellows learn tools for problem-solving, ideation, and experimentation while developing solutions to real challenges in their teams and operations. The Fellowship is open to UNHCR staff at all levels, as well as colleagues from UN agencies, NGOs, and partner organizations worldwide . 📅 Application Deadline: 2 March 2026 🔗 Learn more & Apply here: unhcr.org/innovation/inn…

Call for Papers: The Rise of International Asylum Coordination: Understanding the Evolution and Impact of Safe Third Country Policies Selected papers will contribute to an edited volume (McGill-Queen’s University Press). See more information below.

Join the Workshop on Internal Displacement in Ukraine: Action, Advocacy & Leadership On 19–20 Feb 2026, IDP leaders, academics & representatives from government, NGOs & UN agencies will explore advocacy and leadership on internal displacement in Ukraine. Register via the QR code

LERRN is delighted to announce that Mustafa Alio is now Interim Co-Director of LERRN. Thank you, Mustafa, for your continued leadership in helping LERRN advance the knowledge and expertise of those most affected by displacement shape forced migration studies, policy and practice

LERRN warmly congratulates Rez on her new role as Special Assistant to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Rez’s courage, vision, wisdom and expertise will be a tremendous asset to UNHCR as it works to navigate such a challenging moment in its history. Congratulations, Rez!

New article by Dr. Jeff Crisp (@JFCrisp) “Waiting for academia: The impact of research on UNHCR policy, programmes and practice”. Using personal stories and research, it asks if the changing research landscape can reshape humanitarian action Read more: carleton.ca/lerrn/2026/new…

Call for Abstracts: International Conference on Migration and Forced Displacement Ministry of Education Ethiopia(@fdremoe) & Addis Ababa University(@AAU_Official) invite abstracts on "Research for Peace Building and Sustainable Development in Ethiopia.” Deadline: 27 Feb 2026

At the Refugee Leadership Funding Convening II, one assumption shifted: Impact isn’t missing. It’s misaligned with the systems meant to support it. That reframing changes where responsibility sits. #HumanitarianFunding

Today, @ait @rcsd_cmu @IDRC_CRDI university chairs open a #policy dialogue with #Thailand's Ministry of Interior, @ASEAN & other stakeholders across #civilsociety & academia to change dramatically the status of #refugees--mostly from #Myanmar--from being perceived as "burden" to "contributors" to the host country: This is a major historical step for any host country worldwide--especially in Asia--marking deeper #GlobalSouth leadership. According to the Thai Operation Centre for #DisplacedPersons, this policy change is "not more just aspirational but operational". See more idrc-crdi.ca/en/research-in…

Dialogue openly explains how #Thailand, together with #Malaysiia & #Indonesia, are realizing the #Myanmar crisis will continue & new solutions for Burmese #displacedpersons--incl Rohingya--have become more imperative in terms of #Humanrights as well as socio-economic realities in @ASEAN.

My op-ed "The Davos Man, and the end of an illusion", @timesofindia Apologies to PM Carney, whom I personally admire and who is brave enough to acknowledge the illusion and hopefully will carry on with the new direction. Hopefully those Western leaders applauding his speech will do likewise.

Thoughts anyone? "President @petrogustavo explained that the integration of the Venezuelan migrant population in Colombia has been largely successful, with more than half already employed and contributing to the economy".

Join a Writing Week - deadline extended! 📚 🖋️ Attend one of our Writing Weeks in March or July 2026 for some focussed time to write, to join a writing community, and receive guidance from a writing coach No proposals required Apply by 15 Feb or 3 May crassh.cam.ac.uk/writing-weeks