Refugee Women Are Already Leading, They Just Need the Platform

Every year on International Women’s Day, the world celebrates the achievements of women and reflects on the progress made toward gender equality. But it is also a moment to think about the voices that are still missing from leadership and decision-making spaces, especially in the humanitarian sector.

Across refugee communities around the world, women play a critical role in supporting families, holding communities together, and helping others navigate difficult situations. Yet their leadership is often invisible or unrecognised.

Globally, women and girls make up more than half of the world’s refugee population. Despite this, only a small number of refugee women are represented in leadership and decision-making spaces. This raises an important question: if women are at the heart of refugee communities, why are their voices still missing where important decisions are made?

When Dreams Are Interrupted

My belief in women’s leadership comes from my own journey.

Thirteen years ago, when I arrived at Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement as a Congolese refugee, my dreams felt like they had suddenly stopped. Like many people who are forced to leave their homes, I entered a completely different reality. The confidence and hope I once had slowly disappeared.

It was not because I had nothing to say or nothing to contribute. It was because I did not yet have the opportunity or the platform to show what I could do for my community.

To find my confidence again, I needed opportunities to build myself up again.

Over time, with opportunities, support, and encouragement, I began to rebuild my confidence. Slowly, my dreams came back. Today, I can say that the hope and confidence I once lost have returned because someone believed in giving me opportunities.

But my story is not unique.

There are thousands of women and girls in refugee communities who are still waiting for that same opportunity to rebuild their confidence, rediscover their dreams, and use their abilities to support their communities.

“I am a refugee woman who once lost confidence and hope. Empowerment helped me find my voice again, and I believe thousands of other women are waiting for the same opportunity.”

Leadership That Already Exists

One of the things I have learned from living in refugee communities is that leadership already exists sometimes in ways that are not officially recognised.

I know many women in my community who demonstrate leadership every day, even without formal titles. One woman I know has been someone people turn to for many years. Refugees from different villages in Rwamwanja often go to her when they need advice. When conflicts arise in the community, she is usually one of the first people called to help resolve them.

What is interesting is that she has never been formally elected as a leader. Yet both men and women trust her judgment and respect her ability to guide others.

Whenever I see this, I often ask myself: if women like her were given platforms and leadership opportunities the way men are, what could they achieve? The truth is that women like her are already solving problems and supporting their communities. What they need is recognition, opportunity, and the space to lead more openly.

From Inclusion to Influence

The humanitarian sector has made progress in talking about gender equality and inclusion. But inclusion alone is not enough.

Women should not only be present they should also have influence.

For refugee women, this means being able to participate in leadership roles, contribute to important decisions, and help shape the programs and policies that affect their communities.

Women are often the heart of families and communities. When women are empowered, they do not only improve their own lives they help strengthen entire communities. Their leadership can bring new ideas, build trust, and create solutions that truly reflect the needs of the people around them.

A Call to Action

If the humanitarian sector wants to see real and lasting change, supporting more women to become official leaders must become a priority.

Refugee women are already showing resilience, creativity, and leadership every day. What many of them still lack is the opportunity to bring those abilities into spaces where decisions are made.

Empowering refugee women is not only about fairness, it is about recognising the leadership that already exists and creating the platforms that allow it to grow.

“Women in refugee communities are not lacking leadership; they are lacking platforms. When we empower women to lead, we unlock solutions that already exist within our communities.”