Empowering Refugees Through Advocacy: ICI’s Approach to Inclusion.

At ICI, we stand by the principle: “Nothing About Us Without Us.” This ethos, first articulated on the International Day of Disabled Persons in 2004, drives our commitment to advocating for the full inclusion of refugees in decision-making processes that directly affect their lives. By empowering refugees with leadership skills and providing platforms to voice their needs, we ensure that the solutions to their challenges are shaped by them, for them.

I. Advocacy for Inclusion

We actively advocate for the meaningful inclusion of refugees and displaced persons in decision-making processes for projects aimed at improving their welfare. Involving refugees throughout a project’s lifespan increases its chances of success, sustainability, and impact. By advocating for the removal of barriers that hinder their participation, we ensure that refugees can take an active role in designing cost-effective and efficient solutions to the issues they face. Empowering refugees to shape these projects not only helps to solve immediate problems but also creates long-lasting change within their communities.

II. Capacity Building

Building the capacity of displaced populations is essential for long-term solutions. Our leadership and mentorship programs equip refugee youth with the skills they need to address their communities’ most pressing challenges. Through these programs, refugees gain the knowledge and experience to not only respond to current challenges but also return to their home countries as leaders, ready to drive the changes necessary for rebuilding their societies. This capacity building is key to ensuring that they become active agents of change both now and in the future.

III. Collaboration with Refugee-led Organizations

We believe that collaboration is crucial in empowering refugee-led organizations to thrive. By forming partnerships with these groups, we help build their capacity and connect them to resources, including financial support. These partnerships not only strengthen refugee-led initiatives but also create opportunities for displaced persons to address the issues that matter most to their communities. By enabling access to financial and capacity-building resources, we help refugees develop sustainable, impactful projects that improve their lives and those of their communities.

At ICI, we are committed to ensuring that refugees are not just passive recipients of aid but active participants in shaping their futures. Through advocacy, capacity building, and collaboration, we aim to dismantle barriers and empower refugees to lead the change they wish to see in their lives and communities.