Summary of The Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative: A Case Study in Canadian Engagement

Launched in 2016, the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative (GRSI) supports governments and non-state actors in developing sustainable, community-based refugee sponsorship programmes across more than twenty countries. This research examines Canada’s global influence through the GRSI, arguing that traditional policy transfer theory alone is insufficient to capture its impact. By integrating policy transfer, migration diplomacy, and capacity building, the authors explore how the Initiative expands refugee protection through civic engagement, strengthens host communities, shapes public narratives, and fosters locally owned, sustainable sponsorship models through collaborative learning, knowledge exchange, and long-term capacity development.

Summary of Rethinking Canada in the global refugee regime

Canada has been an active global actor on forced migration, shaped by a wide range of government and non-government actors, as well as regional and global contexts. Canada’s contributions to refugee resettlement and humanitarian assistance are valuable, but the extent of their impact on areas of change remain unclear. Further research on Canada’s ability to influence global refugee outcomes needs to consider if, when, and how Canadian domestic policy impacts its influence abroad.