Challenges and Opportunities for Refugee Women-Led Organizations in Uganda
A new WUSC-supported research report, Challenges and Opportunities for Refugee Women-Led Organizations (W-RLOs) in Uganda, highlights both the immense contributions W-RLOs make to their communities as well as the obstacles they face.
The study amplifies the voices of women refugee-led organizations (W-RLOs) who struggle with systemic challenges such as underfunding, lack of recognition, language barriers, and exclusion from decision-making spaces. It identifies ten major barriers to growth and sustainability, from technology gaps and limited access to funding, to cultural norms that restrict women’s leadership visibility.
The report was authored by Deline Ramiro and Vanessa Ishimwe, refugees who have held various leadership roles in RLOs and are currently members of WUSC’s DREEM Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). Upon reflecting on their experiences as refugee women leaders in Uganda and Kenya, the duo undertook this research to identify patterns in barriers limiting the participation and impact of women-led RLOs.
“There are not a lot of refugee women and girls currently who have the access to decision making processes. “This reduces the chances that decisions that are being made are in the best interest of society as a whole,” Vanessa said.
To unlock their full potential, the report calls for flexible, accessible funding that reflects grassroots realities, Capacity-building for organizational development, increased visibility and inclusion, and supportive partnerships with INGOs, donors, and governments that treat W-RLOs as equal actors.
The report indicates that these organizations are rich in potential but under-resourced, and that strengthening them will build more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable refugee response systems in Uganda.
“Coming from my personal experience, any woman from a displaced background holds the power to shape our future. I would like for there to be a space where they can voice their voices and can be heard,” Deline said.
This research was supported by YAC’s Community Fund, which is made possible by WUSC, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
Read the full report to learn about the experiences of W-RLOs and explore the recommendations.