International Project: DCR supporting refugee-led initiatives in Cyprus

In Cyprus, thousands of refugees wait for years for a decision on their asylum claim. With more than 25,000 pending cases – the highest per-capita backlog in the EU – the asylum system is blocked. Refugees face legal uncertainty, restrictions on work, and increasing hostility in daily life.

In this environment, refugee-led communities are often the first to restore trust, provide peer-to-peer support, and create space for dignity and participation.

This project strengthens refugee-led communities in Cyprus. It helps them amplify their voice, build sustainable structures, and lead initiatives that matter to their communities. The project also empowers refugees to self-organise, engage in advocacy, and launch community-based projects, thereby enhancing visibility, resilience, and impact.

Together with our partner, the Cyprus Refugee Council (CyRC), we support four refugee-led groups selected through an open call:

• African LGBTIQ+
• Bridges for Tomorrow
• Star of Migrants
• Vymata Project

Each group has co-created a tailored action plan focusing on governance, legal registration, community engagement, and organisational development.

• Project kick-off meeting
• Participation in the World Refugee Day Festival
• Legal workshop
• Regular mentoring sessions

Through this project, CyRC is gaining a deeper understanding of how refugee-led groups in Cyprus are organised and how they work within their communities. Based on these insights, CyRC can shape its support to match the specific goals and needs of the most promising groups.

Step by step, these groups are developing the skills and confidence to engage more actively with their communities and to make their voices heard in public debates. Over time, this will create a network of strong refugee-led actors who can contribute to asylum-related initiatives, defend rights, and organise meaningful community activities.

The aim is to empower refugee-led groups to take ownership of the issues that directly affect them and to participate fully in public life. In the long run, this will open the way for greater refugee involvement in decision-making and strengthen the resilience of communities across Cyprus.

The Cyprus Refugee Council (CyRC) works to protect and support refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of trafficking in Cyprus. It provides legal, social, and psychosocial support, promotes integration, and advocates for stronger migration policies aligned with international standards.

CyRC leads all aspects of project implementation on the ground. The Dutch Council for Refugees (DCR) supports refugee-led groups through funding, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building, with a focus on enhancing their sustainability, visibility, and effectiveness.

This project is central to our commitment to international solidarity and to building a more humane asylum policy in Europe: one that gives refugees space to integrate, participate, and rebuild their lives with dignity.

Our approach is guided by four principles:

• Dignity & participation: Refugees are not just recipients of aid; they are agents of change.
• Better outcomes: Peer-led initiatives build trust and reach communities in ways official services cannot.
• Sustainability: Supporting local leadership creates lasting capacity beyond short-term projects.
• Policy impact: Strong RLOs contribute to evidence-based advocacy that can shift narratives and influence fairer policies.