Refugee Solidarity Network
Refugee Solidarity Network is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2011 that protects refugee rights and strengthens host communities in countries such as Turkey, Bangladesh, and Pakistan through multilingual legal-information portals, comparative research, and capacity-building partnerships with local civil society.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Refugee Solidarity Network does
Refugee Solidarity Network (RSN) is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2011 and headquartered at 1 Dock 72 Way, 7th Floor, Brooklyn, NY. The organization protects the rights of people displaced from their homes and strengthens the communities where they seek safety, operating programmatically in refugee host countries outside the United States — primarily Turkey, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Iran, with growing engagement in Mexico, Malaysia, and Thailand. RSN's primary direct beneficiary population consists of refugees and asylum-seekers; its operational counterparties are host-country civil society organizations, including legal service providers and advocates. Leadership is anchored by Executive Director Zaid Hydari and a small staff of 1-10 employees.
RSN's product portfolio centers on multilingual digital information resources and comparative legal research. The flagship is the Info Portal for Refugees in Turkey (Mülteci Hukuku Bilgi Portalı), co-developed with Refugee Rights Turkey since 2015 and expanded to six additional languages in 2022. Complementary offerings include the interactive Refugee Journey Map, the Mülteci Hukuku legal-reference platform for Turkish lawyers, the 'What's in My Legal Backpack?' booklet for unaccompanied minors, animated video series on detention, deportation, and minors' rights, and an expanding library of research publications covering Rohingya, Afghan, Syrian, and climate-displaced populations. RSN has also documented a Large Language Model-powered chatbot proof-of-concept in its May 2024 'Navigating Humanitarian AI' report, exploring natural-language and question-answering modalities for legal-information access.
RSN's business model is that of a private nonprofit with no commercial pricing. Revenue is sourced from individual donations and foundation grants, with Open Society Foundations and the Open Society Justice Initiative documented as multi-year research and program funders. Services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries through direct partnerships with host-country civil society organizations — Refugee Rights Turkey being the anchor since 2015 — rather than via traditional sales channels. Distribution is regional and partnership-led, covering North America (HQ and advocacy), the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America.
Refugee Solidarity Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Refugee Solidarity Network
- Legal name
- Refugee Solidarity Network
- Website
- https://refugeesolidaritynetwork.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Refugee Solidarity Network is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2011 that protects refugee rights and strengthens host communities in countries such as Turkey, Bangladesh, and Pakistan through multilingual legal-information portals, comparative research, and capacity-building partnerships with local civil society.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Refugee Solidarity Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Refugee Rights Advocacy
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE), Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)
Keywords
Where Refugee Solidarity Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Refugee Solidarity Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a nonprofit organization, RSN relies on financial contributions from individuals and institutional donors to fund operations and programs supporting refugee rights and host communities.
- Foundation Grants: RSN receives multi-year research consultancies and project grants from foundations such as Open Society Foundations and Open Society Justice Initiative to conduct research and advocacy work.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Refugee Solidarity Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Refugee Solidarity Network protects the rights of refugees and strengthens host communities through legal protection partnerships, comparative research, training of local advocates, and multilingual public education. Its core offerings include a joint RSN-RRT Info Portal for Refugees in Turkey, an interactive Refugee Journey Map, legal reference materials for practitioners, research publications, and know-your-rights information sessions delivered through partner organizations.
Product overview
Refugee Solidarity Network (RSN) operates as a non-profit organization focused on refugee rights advocacy and protection, rather than a traditional software product company. RSN's offerings consist of research publications, digital information tools, and educational resources. The core digital products include the Info Portal for Refugees in Turkey (a multilingual legal information platform), the Refugee Journey Map (an interactive educational experience), and various video series on refugee rights. These are complemented by extensive research reports, legal reference materials for practitioners, and community training programs. RSN also explored AI/chatbot technology through a proof-of-concept report on humanitarian AI implementation. The portfolio is delivered through partnerships with local organizations, particularly Refugee Rights Turkey, and focuses on capacity development and access to information rather than commercial software products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Info Portal for Refugees in Turkey (Mülteci Hukuku Bilgi Portalı) A multilingual online information portal jointly developed by RSN and Refugee Rights Turkey, providing refugees and asylum-seekers in Turkey access to essential information on their rights, obligations, and legal procedures. Expanded to include content for unaccompanied minors and a video series on detention and deportation.
- Refugee Journey Map An interactive digital experience depicting the complex series of events that occur as a result of forced displacement, told from both refugee and host community perspectives with RSN's approach and role integrated throughout.
- Research Publications and Reports Comprehensive research reports on refugee protection covering topics including Afghan refugees in regional contexts, Rohingya communities in Bangladesh, family reunification in Turkey, climate displacement, and refugee protection in South and Southeast Asia. Includes annual reports documenting organizational activities.
- Legal Reference Materials (Mülteci Hukuku) Reference materials and handbooks for lawyers on international and domestic refugee law in Turkey, developed in partnership with Refugee Rights Turkey.
- What's in My Legal Backpack? - Information Booklet for Unaccompanied Minors A child-friendly information booklet designed to help unaccompanied minors understand their rights and the steps needed to obtain legal protection in Turkey.
- Know Your Rights Information Sessions Community training sessions conducted by Refugee Rights Turkey in partnership with RSN, covering topics such as labor rights, work permits, and steps for setting up businesses or registering as skilled artisans for refugees in Turkey. Delivered at venues such as the Maharat Center in Istanbul.
- Navigating Humanitarian AI: Lessons Learned from Building a Chatbot Proof-of-Concept Publication documenting RSN's exploration of Large Language Models to power chatbots aimed at enhancing access to critical legal information for asylum-seekers. The report examines core concerns with AI implementation including factual inaccuracies, algorithmic bias, and privacy issues.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multi-year research partnership with Open Society Foundations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Refugee Solidarity Network
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Refugee Solidarity Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
Refugee Solidarity Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- Refugee Rights Turkey (RRT)corePrimary long-term partnership since 2015 with Turkey's leading refugee rights organization. RSN and RRT jointly provide legal information and counseling for refugees, deliver group counseling information sessions, and jointly developed the online information portal for refugees in Turkey.
- Bangladesh Legal Aid & Services Trust (BLAST)coreLong-standing partnership on joint research publication 'Beyond Refuge: Advancing Legal Protections for Rohingya Communities in Bangladesh' examining national laws and policies to improve refugee situation.
- Global Strategic Litigation Council for Refugee Rights (GSLC)majorCo-facilitated virtual event 'Decolonizing Refugee Law' and provided additional support for the Undoing Precarity report on refugee protection in South and Southeast Asia.
- Baker Institute's Center for the Middle East at Rice UniversitymajorJoint policy brief 'Strengthening Mexico's Asylum System' examining the role of civil society actors in emerging countries of asylum with specific focus on Mexico.
- Sin Fronteras IAPsupportingJoint series of events in Mexico City in October 2019 exchanging comparative knowledge on refugee protection in emerging host states, bridging Turkish and Mexican asylum contexts.
- International Human Rights Clinic at Boston University School of LawsupportingCollaborated over 2017-2018 to investigate detention practices and conditions for asylum-seekers in Bulgaria.
- Center for Legal Aid - Voice in BulgariasupportingSofia-based NGO partner for Bulgaria detention investigation project with Boston University Law Clinic.
- Clyde & Co. LLPsupportingCollaboration on report 'Climate Displacement in Pakistan' assessing available protections for climate-displaced persons within Pakistan's legal and policy frameworks.
- ClimateREACHsupportingPartner on Climate Displacement in Pakistan report, providing comparative and international practice insights on climate displacement protection.
- Maharat CentersupportingIstanbul-based livelihood center supported by International Medical Corps and UNHCR. RSN-RRT work with Maharat to deliver know-your-rights information sessions for Syrian refugees.
- International Medical CorpssupportingSupports the Maharat Center in Istanbul where RSN-RRT deliver refugee information sessions.
- United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)supportingUN agency supporting Maharat Center where RSN-RRT deliver refugee information sessions. RSN recognizes UNHCR's supervisory role in refugee status determination.
- NaripokkhosupportingLeading Bangladesh women's rights organization that hosted RSN roundtable consultation with representatives of over 10 national NGOs on Rohingya response needs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Refugee Solidarity Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Amnesty International: Global human rights movement producing country reports, policy advocacy, and grassroots campaigns. Comparable to RSN on advocacy, op-eds, and rights-based research output, though vastly larger and broader in scope.
- HIAS: One of the oldest US-based Jewish refugee resettlement and protection organizations, delivering direct legal services, resettlement, and advocacy globally. Larger and broader than RSN but overlaps significantly on refugee rights and legal services.
- Danish Refugee Council (DRC): Major international refugee organization delivering protection, durable solutions, and advocacy across dozens of host countries. Operates at much larger scale but converges with RSN on host-country civil society capacity-building and protection frameworks.
- Human Rights Watch: Global human rights research and advocacy organization producing in-depth country reports and conducting high-level advocacy. Comparable on research and advocacy output, though broader in scope than RSN's refugee specialization.
- International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major humanitarian NGO operating across emergency response, health, education, and economic recovery for refugees and displaced populations. Far larger than RSN but shares the refugee-rights mission and field-presence footprint in many of the same host countries.
Direct peers
- Refugees International: Advocacy and research NGO producing field-driven reports on displaced populations and conducting high-level donor and government advocacy. Closely parallels RSN's research-and-advocacy model and host-country country-condition reports.
- Bangladesh Legal Aid & Services Trust (BLAST): Long-standing RSN partner on Rohingya protection research in Bangladesh; a leading legal aid and human rights NGO providing services, litigation, and policy work. Programmatically aligned and co-produces flagship RSN publications.
- Asylum Access: International NGO providing legal aid and representation for refugees to assert their rights in host countries (Thailand, Mexico, Ecuador, Tanzania, Malaysia). Closely aligned with RSN's rights-based legal empowerment approach and country portfolio.
- Center for Strategic Litigation (CSL) / Global Strategic Litigation Council for Refugee Rights (GSLC): Multi-organization initiative focused on strategic litigation for refugee rights; RSN co-facilitated GSLC events and supported the Undoing Precarity report. Highly comparable on refugee rights litigation, advocacy, and South/Southeast Asia programming.
- Refugee Rights Turkey (RRT): RSN's primary on-the-ground partner since 2015; an Istanbul-based refugee rights organization delivering legal information, counseling, and advocacy for refugees in Turkey. Operationally and programmatically nearly identical to RSN's Turkey programming, making it the most direct comparable.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Refugee Solidarity Network social profiles
Digital presenceRefugee Solidarity Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Refugee Solidarity Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Refugee Solidarity Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Refugee Solidarity Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Refugee Solidarity Network
What does Refugee Solidarity Network do?
Refugee Solidarity Network protects the rights of refugees and strengthens host communities through legal protection partnerships, comparative research, training of local advocates, and multilingual public education. Its core offerings include a joint RSN-RRT Info Portal for Refugees in Turkey, an interactive Refugee Journey Map, legal reference materials for practitioners, research publications, and know-your-rights information sessions delivered through partner organizations.
Is Refugee Solidarity Network a public or private company?
Refugee Solidarity Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Refugee Solidarity Network founded?
Refugee Solidarity Network was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Refugee Solidarity Network based?
Refugee Solidarity Network is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Refugee Solidarity Network make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants.
Who are Refugee Solidarity Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Amnesty International, HIAS, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Human Rights Watch and International Rescue Committee (IRC). Direct peers are Refugees International, Bangladesh Legal Aid & Services Trust (BLAST), Asylum Access, Center for Strategic Litigation (CSL) / Global Strategic Litigation Council for Refugee Rights (GSLC) and Refugee Rights Turkey (RRT).
Does Refugee Solidarity Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Refugee Solidarity Network.
What industry is Refugee Solidarity Network in?
Refugee Solidarity Network's product category is Refugee Rights Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAG, Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAI, Refugee & Immigrant Support Services. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.