About us

R-Space is a refugee-led forum for critical dialogue that shifts away from state-centric conversations toward solutions driven by impacted communities.

Four women standing together indoors, smiling at the camera.

About us

R-Space is a refugee-led forum for critical dialogue that shifts away from state-centric conversations toward solutions driven by impacted communities. Led by refugee advocates working in collaboration with foundations, INGOs and networks, academia, and policy thought leaders, R-Space brings lived experience into policy rooms and pushes past tokenism toward genuine influence and co-governance.

Vision: to act as a refugee led international platform for meaningful refugee participation and leadership in global refugee policy and practice.

Mission: To shift from state-driven narratives to refugee-led solutions in key global policy forums or conversations.

A woman speaking at a podium during a conference or event, with an audience seated in front of her. There is a vertical banner on her left that reads 'R-SPACE' and depicts a graphic of houses in a neighborhood, with a logo of a tree integrated into it. The room has wood-paneled walls and framed artwork.

Why R-Space?

While refugee voices are increasingly present in official spaces, they often lack the power to shape agendas and outcomes. Global forums are frequently state-driven, leaving critical conversations absent from the main agenda.

In 2023, R-Space was created to address this gap. We are an independent, parallel forum where refugee leaders, forcibly displaced individuals, and allies can set their own agenda, engage in critical reflections and discussions, and share community-centered solutions. 

Objectives:

  • Serves as a space for refugee leadership to take the lead in advocacy and agenda-setting  in policy related to refugees.

  • Provides an accessible space for all refugees, in an environment where they can be heard, particularly in settings that might otherwise exclude them.

  • Strengthens among refugee leadership movement, NGOs, and donors to support Refugee led advocacy.