Rethinking Refugee Support: Leadership, Innovation, and Sustainable Solutions
As global displacement reaches unprecedented levels, traditional refugee response systems are strained by donor fatigue, policy restrictions, and insufficient long-term solutions. This session will explore how we can shift the paradigm toward refugee-centered, sustainable, and innovative approaches that elevate proximate leadership and prioritize trust-based philanthropy. How can we support and scale Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) to take the lead in response efforts? What role does technology play in improving humanitarian aid, healthcare access, and legal pathways for refugees? How can mental health support be integrated into refugee assistance, particularly in regions where migration is driven by forced displacement?
Additionally, we will examine the critical need for language access in humanitarian response—how effective communication can improve service delivery, facilitate integration, and ensure that refugees and migrants have agency in shaping their futures. Through this discussion, participants will explore collaborative solutions at the intersection of climate, poverty, and gender justice to build a more resilient and inclusive system for displaced communities.
Key Questions:
How can Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) take a central role in humanitarian response, and what barriers must be addressed to elevate proximate leadership?
In an era of donor fatigue, how can philanthropy and humanitarian funding shift toward more sustainable, trust-based models?
What innovative technologies and best practices can improve refugee health, employment, and access to legal pathways?
Why is mental health a foundational issue in refugee response, and how can support systems be improved?
How does language access shape refugee integration and humanitarian effectiveness, and what scalable solutions exist?
This session will bring together diverse voices to discuss how refugee support can evolve beyond crisis response toward sustainable, community-led, and rights-based solutions.
Session Co-Leaders
Alisa Roadcup Bhachu is the Co-founder of Refugee Can Be and Executive Director of the Chicago Refugee Coalition, dedicated to advocating for women, girls, and forcibly displaced communities.
Aral Surmeli is the Executive Director of HERA Digital Health, a physician and public health expert specializing in humanitarian and digital health solutions, with a focus on refugee care.
Cathreen Ndege-Chirwa is an Executive Director with over eight years of experience empowering refugees and host communities through education, vocational training, and income-generating opportunities.
Chantale Zuzi is the Founder of Refugee Can Be, a nonprofit championing girls’ education in Uganda’s Rwamwanja refugee camp, drawing from personal experience as a survivor of war and displacement.
Jaya Tiwari is a dynamic nonprofit leader and executive team member with over 20 years of experience in international development and global health, specializing in research, advocacy, fundraising, and congressional outreach with a focus on Africa.
Walker Frahm is the Chief of Staff at Tarjimly, a nonprofit leader with extensive experience in refugee aid and crisis response, dedicated to eliminating humanitarian language barriers.