coalition member leaders

Alongside other Coalition member representatives, Coalition member leaders work with the RRLI implementation team to set strategy, develop programming, and advocate for our mission in local, regional, and global contexts.

BASMEH & ZEITOONEH

Daria Jamil

Daria Jamil has nine years of experience working in humanitarian and development fields in local refugee-led organizations in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey. She holds two master’s degrees in managing industrial and environmental risks. After having to leave Syria in 2013, she joined Basmeh & Zeitooneh (B&Z)  as a volunteer teacher in the B&Z  learning program for refugee children. Currently, Daria is the Chief Development Officer at Basmeh & Zeitooneh.

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ST. ANDREW’S REFUGEE SERVICES

Ibrahim Abou Senna

Ibrahim Abou Senna is a lawyer specializing in mandate refugee status determination, resettlement, and protection legal aid. Ibrahim has led the Refugee Legal Aid Department at StARS for more than five years. At StARS, he has developed and expanded the range of StARS legal aid services, to include resettlement through complementary pathways, and specialized legal services for unaccompanied children. Ibrahim oversees the training of refugee paralegals working in communities across greater Cairo, and has established a recruitment program for refugee legal representatives working on mandate RSD. 

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REFUGIADOS UNIDOS

Lublanc Prieto

Lublanc Prieto is a Venezuelan refugee, lawyer, human rights activist and expert on migration and refugee issues. She fled Venezuela for health reasons and political persecution and today is President and a founding member of Refugiados Unidos. For more than six years, she has led projects with organizations in Latin America serving refugee communities, including during COVID-19, and has dedicated herself to work in the attention and strengthening of the rights of the Venezuelan population in Colombia.

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YARID

Robert Hakiza

Robert Hakiza is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID). Robert’s leadership draws on his experiences from work with Oxford University’s Humanitarian Innovation Project and his role as a Steering Committee member representing Africa for the Global Refugee-Led Network. He has dedicated his life to working with urban refugees and educating others about the obstacles refugees face — an experience with which he is intimately familiar as a refugee from Congo living in Uganda since 2008.

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RAIC INDONESIA

Mozhgan Moarefizadeh

Mozhgan Moarefizadeh is Founder and Executive Director of RAIC Indonesia - a grassroots organization based in Jakarta that aims to ease the burden for those fleeing persecution. She is a trained paralegal with over a decade of experience implementing accessible resettlement pathways, holistic support services, and long-term solutions for displaced communities in Indonesia. She was born in Iran and came to Indonesia herself as a political refugee, before finding resettlement after nearly 10 years. Currently, Mozhgan is based between Indonesia and Canada where she continues to lead the delivery of RAIC's work while navigating her own journey of forced displacement. Alongside her leadership at RAIC, Mozhgan was a founding member of the RRLI Coalition, co-host of the award winning 'The Wait' podcast, and is a passionate global advocate for refugee rights and leadership.

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ASYLUM ACCESS

Rouba Anka &
Lisa D’Annunzio

Rouba and Lisa are refugee human rights and systems change advocates. They are the Interim Co-CEOs at Asylum Access, where, together, they embody a leadership team united by their shared vision and complementary expertise. Rouba is an expert in nonprofit operational, financial and administrative functions, combining her MBA and over a decade of working with nonprofits with her lived experience of forced displacement from Lebanon. Lisa, meanwhile, is an effective communicator and partnership-builder in the field of human rights combining a law degree with over 15 years of experience nonprofit communications and fundraising.

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implementation team

The RRLI Implementation Team carries out the Initiative’s programs, operations, and strategy as developed in consultation with Coalition member leaders.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & STRATEGY

Amina Swedi

Amina is an experienced leader in international development and humanitarian work, working with histirically marginalized communities, including internally displaced persons and refugees. With over a decade of experience in East Africa, she has collaborated with various organizations to enhance local capacities and ensure program sustainability. Holding a Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management and a Bachelor of Education in English Literature, Amina is currently the Director of Operations and Strategy for the Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative (RRLI). In this role, she oversees finance, human resources, and monitoring and evaluation to support RRLI’s mission. Additionally, she serves on the advisory board for RockHealth, promoting healthcare initiatives for women and girls in East Africa.

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ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Davis Onjoro

Davis supports RRLI team members to complete program activities that foster accessibility and inclusivity. He focuses on providing logistical support, grantmaking administration, financial administration, and other administrative tasks. As a survivor of forceful displacement in the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya, Davis believes that refugees should have a seat at the decision-making table and take a leading role in developing and implementing solutions within their communities, considering that they have a better understanding of their communities’ needs, challenges faced by their communities, and potential solutions to such challenges. Davis holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, majoring in Finance and Banking and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K). Davis is currently based in Kenya, and he is passionate about abstract art.

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COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Graham Kembo

Graham coordinates RRLI’s communications with partners, supporters and the wider public. He is driven by a strong passion and desire to effect positive change in the world, particularly through responding to forced displacement. He has experience in Digital communication and he believes that technology is a powerful tool in communication and if used properly, it can expedite the much needed change in our world today. Graham is currently based in Zimbabwe and he loves reading current affairs and also enjoys playing tennis and swimming.

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DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Hane Alrustm

Hane is the Director of Programs at RRLI and as a person of displacement, Hane believes that solutions come from within the displaced communities and this is what motivated him to join the team.  Prior to joining RRLI, Hane was involved in a lot of movements including co-founding SHiFT social innovation Hub in the north of Lebanon, in which he led its Mental Health and Psycho-social component. While there he designed and launched the MHPSS intervention after the Beirut Blast in 2020. In 2017, he founded SADA troupe for playback theatre which aimed to establish a safe platform where communities can express their narratives, memories, fears, and aspirations before experiencing them coming alive on stage. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in theater studies. Hane is currently based in Belgium and he is passionate about theater, Arts and he loves Animals.

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DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS

Mohamed Ahmed

Mohamed began working in the field of forced displacement in 2016 after becoming a displaced person himself. He has led various projects aimed at helping refugee populations and is known for his attention to detail and analytical skills. Currently, he is involved in developing strategies for the Refugee Refugee Leadership Initiative (RRLI) focused on fundraising, advocacy, and evidence generation. He believes in compassion, empathy, and the importance of integrity for achieving justice. Mohamed sees refugee leadership as essential in addressing the global displacement crisis. An avid writer since childhood, he has published several articles and hopes to release his first novel soon. Outside of work, he enjoys playing football and cooking. Mohamed dreams of a world with equal rights and opportunities for all, where everyone can live with dignity.

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PROGRAMS OFFICER

Mary Gitahi

Mary is a social innovator with over five years of experience in community development, focusing on refugee governance and inclusion. As a displaced person, she advocates for migration and human rights. She has a degree in Business Administration, specializing in International Business Management from Makerere University in Uganda. Mary has led research for the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network and the Research Study Center at Oxford, focusing on refugee-led organizations in East Africa. Additionally, she initiated a Women Computer Literacy Program and volunteered with refugee-led organizations in various roles. Mary is also a member of the steering committee for the Just, Tech and Migration community, which addresses the impacts of digital technology on asylum and migration.

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ADVOCACY & RESOURCE MOBILIZATION OFFICER

Rawan Raad

Rawan supports RRLI's advocacy and resource mobilization efforts. Prior to joining RRLI, Rawan played a key role in organizations focused on meaningful youth participation and women's rights with her diverse skillset encompassing research analysis, strategic communication, and program management. Rawan is also a global health advocate with a deep understanding of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), particularly within displaced communities. Her work bridges the gap between research and action, leveraging her expertise to inform policy and empower marginalized voices.

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