International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI)

Directory of NGOs Working on Refugee Issues in Africa

Across Africa there are many courageous voices speaking on behalf of refugees. These come from departments and programs in universities devoted to the study of refugees, from humanitarian organizations focused on providing for the material need of refugees and from human rights and refugee advocates.

In a political climate in which the traditional African hospitality is increasingly under threat, and in which refugees are more and more often thought of as threats to economic resources and national security, a trend which has only intensified in the context of the new global war on terror, it is vital that these voices be heard.

The International Refugee Rights Initiative sees amplifying the voices of these advocates as a crucial part of its mission. We seek to build bridges both among local advocates, and between these local advocates and those who are advocating refugee rights on the global level.

This directory is a first step in this process. By pulling together information about NGOs working on behalf of refugees across the continent, we hope to facilitate communication among these groups, and others outside Africa. It is hoped that these connections may spark innovative and fruitful collaborations.

More than mere inventory of names and addresses, we have attempted to include substantive descriptions of the work that each organization is engaged in. By distributing this information via circulation of this directory and posting it on the internet, we hope to raise the profile of the diversity of initiatives taking place on behalf of refugees in Africa.

All of the information provided in this directory is provided directly by the organizations listed or compiled from public sources. We hope that the directory will grow and we invite comments on useful information to include in the profiles as well as suggestions of additional organizations which should be added.

Suggestions of new organizations or updates to profiles can be e-mailed to Karin van der Tak at karin.vandertak @ refugee-rights.org.