Redesigning Refugee Response: Climate, Conflict, and Community Leadership
From the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh to urban refugee communities worldwide, the needs of displaced people are growing more complex even as global funding and resettlement opportunities shrink. Refugee-led organizations (RLOs) are stepping into the gap — advancing climate adaptation strategies, supporting women and girls, and sustaining fragile economies — yet remain chronically underfunded and underrecognized.
This session asks: what would it take to reimagine the refugee response sector so it is more resilient, equitable, and led by those with lived experience? How can we shift funding flows, integrate technology and AI responsibly, and strengthen self-reliance opportunities in the face of overlapping crises of climate, conflict, and displacement?
Speakers
Aral Surmeli — CEO of HERA Digital Health and President of MEDAK, focusing on tech and AI in humanitarian aid and healthcare for displaced populations.
Dekow Sagar — CEO of the International Council for Refugees and Immigrants, leading programs for refugee protection and inclusion.
Iftikher Mahmood — Founder & CEO of Hope Foundation for Women & Children of Bangladesh, building hospitals and midwifery schools serving vulnerable women and refugees.
Kayla Slagter — Associate Director of Development at RefugePoint, advancing equitable funding systems for refugee-focused organizations.
Sara Brandsema — Director of Global Corporate Partnerships at the International Rescue Committee, building alliances with the private sector to support humanitarian impact.
What to Expect
Surface urgent realities – Explore challenges faced by displaced populations, particularly women, girls, and vulnerable groups in urban and camp settings.
Center refugee leadership – Highlight refugee-led climate adaptation, service delivery, and self-reliance initiatives.
Address systemic gaps – Discuss the global funding crisis, cuts in NGO operations, and the urgent need to channel resources directly to RLOs.
Imagine new models – Consider how technology, AI, and innovative finance could strengthen refugee-led responses and long-term resilience.
Why Join?
Gain a deeper understanding of the intersection of climate, conflict, and displacement.
Learn from refugee leaders charting solutions in fragile states and host communities.
Contribute to reimagining funding flows and support systems for the refugee sector.
Explore how innovation and equity can transform humanitarian response.
Who Should Attend?
Refugee-led organizations and community leaders.
Funders and philanthropists seeking to directly support refugee-led responses.
NGOs, policymakers, and practitioners working on displacement, climate, and conflict.
Anyone committed to reshaping humanitarian response to be more inclusive, sustainable, and just.