AFRO ROAD

📢 **AFRO-ROAD at R-Space 2025 | Refugee Leadership in Action**

We are proud to share that **Mary Gitahi**, representing **AFRO-ROAD**, presented key findings from the study **“From the Fringes to the Forefront: Refugee Leadership within Uganda’s Humanitarian Response”** at **R-Space 2025**, a refugee-led global convening held from **15–17 December 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland**, alongside the **Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Progress Review**.

🟣 **R-Space 2025**, organized by **R-SEAT (Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table)**, brought together refugee leaders, refugee-led organizations (RLOs), policymakers, and humanitarian actors to reflect on progress and push for **meaningful refugee leadership** in global refugee responses.

During her presentation, Mary highlighted:
🔹 What **humanitarian coordination looks like when refugees are allowed to lead**
🔹 Evidence of **good practices** where refugee leadership has strengthened coordination, accountability, and impact
🔹 The critical role of **RLOs** as equal partners rather than implementers at the margins

📌 **Key Recommendations from the Study:**
👉 **INGOs:** Shift from tokenistic engagement to equitable partnerships with RLOs, including direct funding and shared decision-making.
👉 **OPM & Government Actors:** Institutionalize refugee leadership within national coordination and policy frameworks.
👉 **UNHCR:** Create structured, resourced pathways for RLO participation in coordination mechanisms and strategic planning.
👉 **RLOs:** Continue strengthening collective leadership, coordination, and advocacy to influence humanitarian systems from within.

📄 **Read the full report here:**
[https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/from-the-fringes-to-the-forefront-refugee-leadership-within-ugandas-humanitaria-621770/](https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/from-the-fringes-to-the-forefront-refugee-leadership-within-ugandas-humanitaria-621770/)

👏 AFRO-ROAD remains committed to advancing refugee-led research, policy influence, and leadership—ensuring refugees move from the fringes to the forefront of humanitarian action.