Policy Advocacy

Refugees remain an affected and peculiar party in conflicts and yet they are mostly left out of decision-making forums and spaces such as peace negotiations, discussion on issues affecting them in their community and prioritization of their community needs and
how to evaluate the programs and interventions in their community. AYAN seeks to address this gap and under representation by organizing and training refugee leaders, on advocacy, and build their capacity to effectively represent the interest and needs of their
communities, influencing policies and practices in the three refugee settlements of Kiryandongo, Kyaka II and Rhino Camp and in Kampala.
AYAN will continue supporting the active participation of refugees in spaces where issues of refugees are being discussed through organizing refugee leadership, training them and supporting their active participation before, during and after events.

Our intervention
To ensure meaningful engagement of youth especially the refugees, we identify and create awareness of the spaces open to refugee
leaders and how they can speak with one voice. We then train the leaders to be able to effectively make their voices heard and
considered. First, by letting them know their roles and responsibilities and the legal environment in which they operate.

AYAN training on Mental Health Group Pic

Projects

1. Kampala City Forums
Through this project, we ensure refugee voices in urban communities in Kampala city are included in the division and city forums.
This project in partnership with ACTogether with funding from the International Institute for Environment and Development(IIED) is
implemented in 6 parishes in Makindye and central Divisions.

2. Refugee Leadership and Participation – Refugee Welfare Council leadership training
At AYAN, we believe refugees are best positioned to respond to the needs and interests of their refugee communities due to their proximity and
first-hand experience. Refugee leaders understand the big picture of the roles they play in the community, solve problems, and set priorities for
learning and action in their communities.

With support from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS Uganda and South Sudan), AYAN in 2022 and 2023 trained 287 refugee leaders (Youth,
Religious, women, Refugee Welfare Councils, Block and Zonal leaders) in Palabek and Kiryandongo refugee settlements.

Through these engagements and being present in these spaces, AYAN believes leaders can gain skills to influence regional and international
policy processes. However, AYAN still acknowledges that refugee participation and engagements currently are not consistent and only permit one
way feedback. There is still a need to develop the capacity of refugee leaders and refugees on how they can meaningfully and proactively engage
in these forums and not only wait to be invited but also create spaces where their voices can influence national, local, regional and global forums.

AYAN in 2025 through 2028 is working with Refugee Welfare Councilors, religious leaders and refugees in Kampala, Kiryandongo, Kyaka II and
Rhino Camp refugee settlement to build the skills they hope to deploy in their settlements or forums where decisions on refugee needs and
priorities are being discussed. This project, supported by the Global Whole Being Fund and Independent Diplomat aims at organizing and
strengthening refugee leadership at the local, national, regional and global forums.