Education, Research & Advocacy – TESFA Refugees with Disabilities Association

Building Knowledge, Generating Evidence, and Protecting Rights

Education, research, and advocacy are fundamental pillars of sustainable development and social inclusion. At TESFA Refugees with Disabilities Association (TESFA), we believe that empowering refugees with disabilities begins with expanding access to education, generating reliable evidence through research, and advocating for equal rights, opportunities, and dignity.

As a Refugee-Led Organization (RLO), TESFA works to ensure that refugees with disabilities are not only beneficiaries of services but also active participants in education, research, decision-making, and policy development. Through partnerships with government institutions, universities, humanitarian organizations, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners, we strive to build an inclusive society where every refugee with a disability has the opportunity to learn, contribute, and thrive.

Our Education, Research & Advocacy programme aims to strengthen individual capacity, promote evidence-based decision-making, and advance the rights and inclusion of refugees with disabilities through education, research, documentation, awareness creation, and policy advocacy.

Whether supporting a student to continue their education, conducting research to identify community needs, or advocating for equal access to essential services, TESFA is committed to creating lasting and meaningful change.

Our Objectives

Through the Education, Research & Advocacy programme, TESFA aims to:

Promote inclusive and equitable education for refugees with disabilities.
Expand access to scholarships, vocational training, and lifelong learning.
Conduct high-quality research and community needs assessments.
Generate evidence to improve programmes and influence policy.
Document best practices, success stories, and lessons learned.
Raise awareness on disability inclusion and refugee rights.
Advocate for equal access to education, healthcare, employment, and justice.
Strengthen leadership and participation of refugees with disabilities.
Build partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, government agencies, and humanitarian partners.
Contribute to sustainable and inclusive development through knowledge, innovation, and evidence-based advocacy.

Our Programmes

Education & Scholarships

Education is a powerful tool for empowerment and self-reliance. TESFA promotes equal access to quality education for refugees with disabilities by supporting formal education, vocational training, technical skills development, scholarships, mentorship, career guidance, and lifelong learning opportunities. We work to reduce educational barriers and enable refugees with disabilities to develop their knowledge, skills, confidence, and future opportunities.

Learn more: → Education & Scholarships

Research & Documentation

Evidence is essential for designing effective programmes and influencing positive change. TESFA conducts research, needs assessments, surveys, documentation, monitoring, evaluations, and publications to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing refugees with disabilities. Our research supports evidence-based programming, organizational learning, policy development, and advocacy while contributing to national and international knowledge on disability inclusion and forced displacement.

Learn more: → Research & Documentation

Advocacy & Rights Protection

TESFA advocates for the rights, dignity, equality, and inclusion of refugees with disabilities. We work to raise awareness, influence policies, promote accessibility, combat discrimination, and ensure that refugees with disabilities enjoy equal access to education, healthcare, livelihoods, justice, humanitarian assistance, and community participation. Through collaboration with government institutions, humanitarian organizations, and development partners, TESFA promotes the full implementation of national and international legal frameworks protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and refugees.