Picture taken from the Evaluation of Community Sponsorship Programme in Ireland

As resettlement and community sponsorship grow across Europe, ethical engagement remains a central challenge. Research from University College Dublin shows that respecting agency, addressing power imbalances, and ensuring meaningful participation must be at the heart of these programmes.

This webinar, organised by the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) in the framework of the QSN+ project, will bring together researchers, practitioners, and refugee representatives to discuss real-life strategies for building respectful, inclusive, and equal partnerships.

What We Will Cover:

• Key ethical principles: consent, transparency, cultural sensitivity

• What UCD’s research teaches us about equality and feedback in sponsorship

• Balancing community involvement with refugee autonomy

• Practical tools for practitioners, policymakers, and volunteers

Format:

• Opening remarks

• Presentation of UCD research

• Panel discussion with practitioners & refugee representatives

• Interactive Q&A

Who Should Join:
Community sponsorship groups, NGOs, policymakers, local authorities, researchers, and anyone working on refugee integration.

Expected Outcomes:
Participants will leave with practical tools, insights, and strategies to embed ethical engagement in their daily work.

*Based on findings from Research involving people of a refugee background: Considerations for ethical engagement and Equality Matters in Community Sponsorship (UCD Research Repository).