funding RLOs
At RRLI, we have established the first-of-its-kind Refugee Leadership Fund—a fund for refugees by refugees. The fund, which is housed within Asylum Access, aggregates financial resources and redistributes them to RLOs around the world. Our US-based legally registered fund shifts resources to refugee leaders and allows donors to safely and smoothly fund RLOs.
The purpose of the Refugee Leadership fund is to catalyze the growth and sustainability of community-led responses to forced displacement situations within key designated countries, currently Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon and Uganda. We believe that when community-driven efforts are well-resourced, community wellbeing will grow. By shifting power and resources to RLOs, we expect the resulting responses to displacement situations will be more impactful. In this way, our fund purses systemic change and challenges current power dynamics that exclude RLOs from key resources.
our fund’s approaches and values
Our Refugee Leadership Fund is based on fundamental approaches and values in order to avoid duplicating problematic power dynamics within the forced displacement sector.
PROVIDE CORE FUNDING
Core funding–or funding that can be used in any manner deemed important by the organization–enables organizations to quickly and efficiently respond to needs as they arise within their communities. Core funding also promotes sustainability and impact, as it permits organizations to prioritize expenses such as salaries, rent and utilities.
LISTEN AND BE FLEXIBLE
We understand that not every organizational journey is linear, and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. We also understand that each context is different, and requires highly localized knowledge to inform funding and programming approaches.
TRUST REFUGEE-LED ORGANISATIONS
Through our due diligence processes we seek to gain the information we need in order to trust RLOs and their leaders in identifying the most important approaches to community response, and in responding to the needs of their organizations.
PROVIDE MULTI-YEAR FUNDING
Multi-year funding gives RLOs a runway to build rapport with other donors, to collect information that helps demonstrate impact, and to develop the systems that support sustainable funding pipelines.
FACILITATE CONNECTIONS (DON’T GATE KEEP)
The Refugee Leadership Fund seeks to help, not hinder, systems change. This means that we seek to not just fund, but also increase the donor base of the RLOs we support such that their work can continue on beyond the grant cycle.
BUILD LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS
Our experiences have taught us that relationships between individuals are the foundation for trust and impact with partnerships, especially between donors and grantees. We seek to build rapport and relationships over multiple meetings and conversations, being mindful of varying time zones, capacity and resource limitations.
BE SUPPORTIVE AND HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS
We offer support to grantees to help ensure the financing is accounted for and impactful. We understand that no matter where an organization is in its lifecycle, there is always a system, process or procedure that still needs to be workshopped and built. Where we can, we aim to help with these things as deemed necessary by either party. As organizations that have been through these challenges before, we understand challenges for RLOs can be uniquely complex, and we show up as thought-partners in locating hard-to-reach solutions.
our types of grants
BOOST GRANTS
FUNDING: Up to $25,000 USD
PERIOD: One year with possibility of renewal
LOCATION: Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon, or Uganda
AIMED AT: RLOs that are smaller and/or newer
Includes comprehensive support from the RRLI Coalition through the Strengthening RLOs Partnership Program.
ADVANCE GRANTS
FUNDING: $100,000 - $200,000 USD
PERIOD: One year with possibility of renewal
LOCATION: Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon, or Uganda
AIMED AT: RLOs that have an established structure and programming, as well as the ability to manage major funding, are encouraged to apply to this grant.
Includes comprehensive support from the RRLI Coalition through the Strengthening RLOs Partnership Program.
qualification
REFUGEE LED
Identify as a refugee-led organization (RLO), or “any formal or informal initiative/organization that is founded and run by people of forced displacement background and/or any formal or informal initiative/organization where people of forced displacement are in major leadership positions and able to influence the work of the organization.”
LOCATION
Be located in one of the following countries: Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon, or Uganda.
PRESENCE
Have a clear presence in their community, including having carried out services or programs in the past.
for BOOST GRANTS an organization or it’s leader(s) must also:
Demonstrate consideration of financial guidelines or policies for managing money
Demonstrate consideration of ethics when implementing programs and delivering services
Show interest in participating in the refugee leadership movement and working to increase the inclusion of refugees at all levels of response
Show interest in participating in the Strengthening RLOs Partnership Program, including some understanding of where support would be beneficial
for ADVANCE GRANTS an organization or it’s leader(s) must also:
Have financial guidelines, controls and systems in place
Have ethical guidelines in place specific to the workplace and programmatic implementation
Show interest in participating in the refugee leadership movement and working to increase the inclusion of refugees at all levels of response, including specific actions they would carry out to advance this mission
selection
Organizations that qualify will be selected on the following criteria:
BOOST GRANTS
Project design and feasibility: is the proposal clear, organized, and achievable?
Justification and significance of impact for communities: will the proposal bring important, on-the-ground change in lives?
Demonstrates the distinct role RLOs can play in refugee response, through showing potential to achieve one or more of the following:
“At scale” community reach in at least one program
Usage of a holistic lens that addresses multiple needs of the community in an intersectional way
Unlocking long-term, sustainable solutions
Readiness of organizational leaders: are organizational leaders prepared to take on the management of a large institution?
Interest and feasibility of organizational growth: do leaders have a plan for growth?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion competency
Gender considerations integrated into the proposal and the organization's approach
ADVANCE GRANTS
Project design and feasibility: is the proposal clear, organized, and achievable?
Justification and significance of impact for communities: will the proposal bring important, on-the-ground change in lives?
Demonstrates the distinct role RLOs can play in refugee response, through achieving one or more of the following:
“At scale” community reach in at least one program
Usage of a holistic lens that addresses multiple needs of the community in an intersectional way
Unlocking long-term, sustainable solutions
Quality of proposal budget: is the budget clear, understandable, detailed, and does it reflect the priorities and needs of the project and organization?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion competency
Gender considerations integrated into the proposal and the organization's approach