Track 1.2: Development of a Refugee Policy Research Network

Track 1.2: Development of a Refugee Policy Research Network
Canada was once recognised as an international leader in producing theoretically grounded, empirically rich, problem focused and policy-relevant research on refugee and humanitarian issues. However, according to discussions with the policy community in Ottawa and elsewhere, this reputation has diminished. Instead, there is a perception that while Canadian researchers produce conceptual and empirical research of the highest quality, more can be done to communicate the findings of this research to the policy and NGO community in Canada and internationally. This perception is mirrored by the frustrations experienced by many researchers in Canada who produce high-quality policy-relevant research on refugees and forced migration, but who are unable to effectively communicate the findings of this research to the policy community. Yet, there is strong support from the policy community for closer links and more structured dialogue. The May 2007 consultations of the Canadian Council for Refugees in Edmonton revealed enthusiastic interest for more engagement on policy issues from the civil society, advocacy and practitioner communities in Canada. At the same time, CRS consultations with representatives of CIC, CIDA and DFAIT in June 2007 revealed strong support from the policy community for more engagement between the research and policy communities, more effective dissemination of research findings to the policy community, and more effective mechanisms for the policy community to communicate their research needs to the research community. The refugee policy research network will serve as the focal-point for policy-relevant research on refugee, forced migration and humanitarian issues, and as a “bridge-builder” between the policy, NGO and research communities both in Canada and globally. The network will foster this sharing and dialogue through both formal and informal means. Semi-annual roundtable discussions between researchers and representatives of the local, regional, national and international policy and NGO communities will be convened. Informally, the network will also work to more effectively disseminate policy-relevant refugee research through briefing papers, mail-lists and regular meetings with key members of the policy and NGO community.