The international humanitarian system was established without refugees informing its design, and for too long, displaced people were excluded from decision-making processes that directly touched their lives. International institutions have taken steps to give refugees a seat at the table and enable local leaders – who know best what their communities need – to make more resource and policy decisions. While progress has been made over the past decade to ensure refugees are effectively included in policy discussions and represented in international forums, there is more work to be done to shift power to refugees across the humanitarian system. In this episode, we hear from Refugees International's own Dr. Hourie Tafech about her own refugee leadership journey and the evolution of the global refugee-led movement. She discusses the crucial role refugee leaders have played in shaping international humanitarian policy decisions and the UN Refugee Agency's operations. She offers ideas to advance meaningful refugee participation across global platforms and measure the impact of refugee inclusion. Timed Takeaways: [07:03] From grassroots advocacy to UNHCR's headquarters: One refugee's leadership journey [13:28] The evolution of refugee participation in international fora and what constitutes meaningful refugee engagement [21:07] Addressing challenges: The impact of aid cuts and systemic barriers on the refugee-led movement [26:22] The role of allyship and partnership in empowering refugee leaders [32:03] Roundup: Displacement in the news this week Mentioned in This Episode: <a href="https://www.refugeesinternational.org/events-and-testimony/building-power-trust-and-change-a-candid-dialogue-between-refugee-leaders-and-candidates-for-the-next-un-high-commissioner-for-refugees/"> Power, Trust and Change: Refugee Leaders in Dialogue with UNHCR Candidates</a> - Refugees International <a href="https://www.refugeesinternational.org/reports-briefs/refugee-leadership-tools-challenges-and-the-path-forward/"> Refugee Leadership: Tools, Challenges, and the Path Forward</a> - Refugees International <a href="https://www.refugee-space.org/">Refugee Space</a> - R-Space <a href="https://www.refugeesseat.org/">Refugees Seeking Equal Access at the Table</a> - R-SEAT <a href="https://www.refugeesinternational.org/reports-briefs/no-one-died-new-frontline-evidence-from-afghanistan-on-maternal-neonatal-and-child-deaths-following-the-withdrawal-of-u-s-assistance/"> No One Died? New Frontline Evidence from Afghanistan on Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Deaths following the Withdrawal of U.S. Assistance</a> - Refugees International <a href="https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochuls-letter-secretary-homeland-security-terminating-temporary-protected-status"> Governor Hochul's Letter to Secretary of Homeland Security: Terminating Temporary Protected Status fo

A Seat at the Table: Advancing Meaningful Inclusion of Refugee Leaders with Dr. Hourie Tafech

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