This collaborative document presents the RSRI network's key messages and call to action to the humanitarian and development community in relation to the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Progress Review 2025 taking place in December 2025. It aims to inform the GRF Progress Review, the broader network of actors engaged in self-reliance programming for displaced people, and the wider humanitarian and development sector regarding ongoing commitments and next steps in refugee self-reliance programming.
The RSRI is advocating for honest conversations about the successes as well as the work that has been slowed down, left incomplete, or dropped altogether – and for recognition of how actors, such as community-based organizations, have been left to fill gaps in service provision even as they themselves are impacted by reduced support.
This brief was drafted by Dr. Evan Easton-Calabria and is a joint output of the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative's Climate Risks and Self-Reliance Technical Working Group (TWG), Refugee Leadership & Refugee-Led Organization (RLO) Engagement TWG, Market Systems Development (MSD) TWG, and Research Community of Practice (CoP). We also acknowledge the valuable review and feedback provided by the RSRI staff and Steering Committee.
