Who we are

By refugees, for refugees

Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR) is a refugee-led network building strong initiatives and leaders across the Asia Pacific — shifting power so refugees hold greater influence in the systems and institutions of the wider sector.

Our story

A movement led by lived experience

There is an urgent need to improve how the world responds to forced displacement in the Asia Pacific — the region that hosts over half of the world's displaced people.

The Asia Pacific Network of Refugees was founded in 2018, after the Asia Pacific Summit of Refugees brought together 104 refugee groups from across Asia. We work as part of a global movement to create a world where refugees lead the decisions that affect their lives, in a meaningful and equitable manner. Most refugees still have limited protection, support or long-term solutions, and are too often excluded from the very processes meant to solve their displacement.

We address this by involving refugees in decision-making and empowering them to take action. Our work stands on five interlinked pillars, each one supporting the others.

Meaningful participation Dignity Inclusion Knowledge sharing & learning Agency & independence

Refugee leaders and a partner in conversation, with an Asia Pacific skyline behind them

Our goals

Our Vision & Mission

Vision

A world where refugees rebuild and thrive. A world where refugees actively shape their futures, restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity for themselves and their communities.

Mission

Supporting refugees to lead, rebuild, and empower. We are a refugee-led organisation working alongside communities to deliver life-changing programs that help refugees take control of their lives.

Value

Our principles for refugees and RLOs prioritise meaningful participation, dignity, inclusion, knowledge sharing & learning, and agency & independence.

The Asia Pacific Summit of Refugees 2024 welcome banner, hosted by APNOR

Est. 2018

Our History

104representatives

10host countries

22 Oct2018, Bangkok

On 22 October 2018, the Asia Pacific Summit of Refugees (APSOR) brought together 104 representatives from refugee-led organisations, networks and communities residing in 10 host countries in the Asia Pacific region to discuss and plan for greater refugee participation in policy- and decision-making. It was the first opportunity of its kind for refugee leaders in the region to share experiences, network, and discuss how to strengthen refugee self-representation at every level — locally, regionally, and internationally.

APSOR followed discussions held in Geneva in June 2018 at the inaugural Global Summit of Refugees (GSOR), which recommended an "inclusive international platform for refugee participation and self-representation" made up of a representative network of refugee community organisations, initiatives and change-makers from around the world. The Asia Pacific region, through APSOR, was the first of the regional-level discussions that followed.

All participants from APSOR wanted to continue regional link-ups and discussions between refugee communities. That shared intent became APNOR.

How we'll get there

Our Objectives

Provide life-saving support

Deliver essential relief and emergency aid during crises — timely access to food, shelter and medical care
Distribute educational tools and resources that enhance refugees' quality of life and future prospects

Empower refugees for independence

Offer training programs that build employability, confidence and self-sufficiency
Allocate financial assistance to organisations that directly support refugees
Equip refugees and RLOs with the skills to run and lead their own local groups

Amplify refugee voices

Create platforms for refugees to participate actively in decision-making processes
Train non-refugee stakeholders to promote inclusion, diversity and empathy

Foster collaborative power

Organise bilateral meetings, forums, dialogues, conferences and summits across stakeholders
Strengthen a regional network of refugee-led initiatives and advocate for the resources and access they need to lead

Our theory of change

Five interlinked pillars

Each pillar has its own page with the problem it responds to, what we do, and the outcome we seek.

Pillar 01

Grassroots engagement & capacity sharing

Building equitable partnerships among refugees and wider stakeholders.

Learn moreRead the full pillar →

Pillar 02

Resource mobilisation

Mobilising resources to support refugee-led initiatives and organisations.

Learn moreRead the full pillar →

Pillar 03

Life-saving support

Empowering refugee-led initiatives to deliver essential support in their own communities.

Learn moreRead the full pillar →

Pillar 04

Advocacy & research

Amplifying refugee voices and advocating for refugee self-representation.

Learn moreRead the full pillar →

Pillar 05

Empowerment & leadership

Building capability and systems for meaningful refugee engagement.

Learn moreRead the full pillar →

Responses are most effective when they actively and meaningfully engage those they are intended to protect and assist.

— UN Global Compact on Refugees, 2018

Our values in action

What guides every decision

Meaningful participation

Refugee communities help design, implement and evaluate our work — and their expertise and time are valued, including through fair compensation.

Agency & independence

We strengthen the agency of refugees who take part in our work, connecting participants with resources and opportunities.

Knowledge sharing & learning

We work adaptively — gathering data, learning from experience, and sharing knowledge mutually with refugee communities.

Transparency & accountability

We are accountable to affected communities and to our partners — communicating clearly about progress, decisions and adaptations.

Accountability & learning

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

Our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework is a key organisational system that helps us do this. It enables us to measure progress, demonstrate outcomes to partners and donors, strengthen our advocacy, and continuously learn and improve.

2022 – 2027

Our Agenda for Change

Our Agenda for Change is being developed by the Steering Committee — made up of refugee leaders from across the region — through a series of country consultations by and for refugees.

See national consultations Ask about the Agenda

By refugeesSteering Committee members from 9 countries shape every stage.

For refugeesGrounded in national consultations run by and for refugees.

Refugee-led organisations we work alongside

Our partners across the network

Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights

Explore what we do

See the programs bringing these pillars to life, or read our latest reports and publications.

Our programs Reports & publications