World Refugee & Migration Council

What World Refugee & Migration Council does

The World Refugee & Migration Council (WRMC) is an independent Canadian charitable organization (Registered Canadian Charity: 72355 9738 RR 0001) established in 2017 and headquartered in Ottawa, built on the momentum of UN meetings in September 2016. It convenes more than 30 volunteer thought leaders, practitioners, and innovators—including former heads of government, ministers, diplomats, humanitarian leaders, academics, and human rights advocates—to develop practical, rights-based policy recommendations on forced displacement, refugee protection, and international responsibility-sharing. The Council does not build proprietary technology products; its core "platform" is its convening authority, its network of senior members, and its policy output, which includes peer-reviewed research papers, reports, policy briefs, discussion papers, and working papers. As of the input, it has produced 80+ publications spanning climate-induced migration, regional cooperation, corruption and displacement, and frozen asset repurposing. Its product surface comprises two formal task forces (the North and Central American Task Force on Migration, and the Canadian Task Force Against Global Corruption), strategic projects such as the Voices in Exile program with the University of Ottawa, events and webinars, and a partner network anchored by the Global Independent Refugee Women Leaders (GIRWL).

Name

World Refugee & Migration Council

Legal name

World Refugee & Migration Council

Website

https://wrmcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The World Refugee & Migration Council is an independent Canadian charity founded in 2017 that convenes 30+ global leaders to develop policy recommendations on forced displacement, refugee protection, and international responsibility-sharing through research, task forces, and direct engagement with governments and international organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI), Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Refugee policy research
• Migration advocacy
• Humanitarian policy
• Forced displacement solutions
• Global refugee governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Charitable Support: The organization operates as a registered Canadian charity (72355 9738 RR 0001) funded through grants and financial/in-kind support from foundations, governments, and institutional supporters.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The World Refugee & Migration Council is an independent global leadership council that develops and disseminates policy recommendations on forced displacement and migration. It produces peer-reviewed publications, operates task forces on North and Central American migration and on global corruption/frozen asset repurposing, hosts events and webinars, and convenes senior leaders to build consensus and influence legislation such as the Special Economic Measures Act and international frameworks like the G7 Ukrainian loan mechanism.

Product overview

The World Refugee & Migration Council operates as a policy-focused organization offering publications (research papers, reports, policy briefs, discussion papers, and working papers), task forces (North and Central American Task Force on Migration and Canadian Task Force Against Global Corruption), strategic projects, events and webinars, and partnership programs including GIRWL. These offerings work together to advance practical, innovative, and rights-based responses to displacement and asylum challenges worldwide through strategic convening, policy development, and engagement with decision-makers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publications (Research Papers, Reports, Policy Briefs, Discussion Papers, Working Papers) Peer-reviewed research papers, reports, policy briefs, discussion papers, and working papers covering refugee protection, climate-induced migration, corruption and displacement, regional cooperation, and frozen asset repurposing, made freely available to governments, institutions, and the public.
• North and Central American Task Force on Migration A non-governmental forum of academics, civil society and business leaders, and former policymakers in dialogue with current government officials, created to facilitate broadly driven solution dialogue on migration and forced displacement in the North and Central American region.
• Canadian Task Force Against Global Corruption A task force focused on repurposing frozen and seized assets to assist the forcibly displaced and promoting anti-corruption measures internationally, with outputs including the Frozen Assets Repurposing Act proposal and Corruption and the Private Sector action plan.
• Strategic Projects WRMC's portfolio of strategic projects addressing specific displacement challenges, including climate-induced migration action plans, frozen asset repurposing, refugee protection initiatives, and the Voices in Exile program with the University of Ottawa.
• Events and Webinars Public events including film screenings, webinars, roundtables, and conferences on forced displacement, migration, refugee protection, and anti-corruption, co-hosted with partners such as the University of Ottawa.
• Global Independent Refugee Women Leaders (GIRWL) A partner network of refugee women-led initiatives, networks, and advocates that works to increase refugee women's participation in shaping policies and promote inclusive human rights approaches to forced displacement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Influenced Canadian legislation on foreign-owned asset forfeiture through Frozen Assets Repurposing Act proposal
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Global Independent Refugee Women Leaders (GIRWL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIRWL is a group of refugee women-led initiatives, networks, and advocates that works with and for refugee women to increase participation in shaping policies, build capacity to engage locally to globally, and strategically advocate for inclusive human rights approaches to forced displacement. WRMC has partnered with GIRWL on publications and events.
• HavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaven is a platform connecting refugees who need help resettling in Canada with Canadians who can help. Refugees from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, and other conflicts use Haven to match with Canadians for housing, employment, and support network rebuilding.
• Lamp Lifeboat LaddercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership supporting refugee victims of torture and sexual violence as they rebuild their lives. The Canadian government has authorized Lamp Lifeboat Ladder to refer up to 90 victims for resettlement to Canada along with family members (roughly 500 refugees).
• Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies (UCSD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the North and Central American Task Force on Migration, contributing academic research and expertise on US-Mexico migration issues.
• Colegio de MéxicomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the North and Central American Task Force on Migration, providing research expertise on migration in the Americas.
• Migration Policy InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the North and Central American Task Force on Migration, providing policy research and analysis on migration issues.
• Inter-American DialoguemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the North and Central American Task Force on Migration, contributing policy dialogue and expertise on inter-American relations.
• Cuso InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing support for WRMC's work with GIRWL through in-kind contributions and programmatic support.
• University of OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the University's Human Rights Research and Education Centre for the Voices in Exile program supporting activists in exile.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Open Society Foundations: Major philanthropic foundation funding migration, refugee rights, and anti-corruption initiatives globally. Comparable to WRMC's thematic focus and donor-base overlap, though OSF operates as a grantmaker rather than a direct advocacy/research counterpart.
• UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency): UN agency mandated to lead and coordinate international action for the protection of refugees. Comparable as the primary global institution WRMC seeks to influence and support through policy recommendations; multiple WRMC leaders (including new Chair Ninette Kelley and Council member Ewen Macleod) are former UNHCR senior officials.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Major US-based public policy think tank producing research and policy recommendations across international affairs, including refugee and migration issues. Comparable to WRMC in policy publication and government engagement, with vastly larger scale and a more diversified funding base.
• International Crisis Group: Independent organization working to prevent wars and shape policy on conflicts that drive forced displacement. Comparable to WRMC's policy research on conflict-driven displacement and convening of senior decision-makers, with stronger field-based intelligence and crisis-response capabilities.
• Chatham House: Royal Institute of International Affairs producing independent research and convening on international policy issues including migration and forced displacement. Comparable to WRMC in convening power and senior-leader networks, with substantially larger scale and broader thematic reach.
• International Rescue Committee: One of the largest humanitarian NGOs globally, providing emergency relief, post-crisis support, and advocacy for refugees and displaced populations. Comparable to WRMC in policy advocacy on refugee systems, though IRC's direct service delivery and global field operations far exceed WRMC's convening-only model.

Direct peers

• Migration Policy Institute: A leading non-partisan think tank dedicated to the study of migration and refugee policy worldwide. Directly comparable to WRMC in policy research, convening, and advising governments on migration frameworks; MPI is an explicit WRMC partner on the North and Central American Task Force on Migration.
• Refugees International: US-based advocacy organization that champions the rights of refugees and displaced people through field-based research, policy reports, and direct engagement with governments. Closely comparable to WRMC's advocacy, research, and high-level convening model, with a stronger US funding base.
• International Centre for Migration Policy Development: Intergovernmental organization supporting migration policy dialogue and capacity building across more than 50 member states. Comparable to WRMC in policy research, dialogue facilitation, and government engagement on migration frameworks, with a stronger European institutional base and government-mandated remit.

Emerging players

• Center for Global Development: Think tank producing research on global development, migration, and aid effectiveness. Comparable to WRMC in policy research and convening on displacement issues, with a broader development mandate and stronger Washington policy footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wrmcouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/wrmcouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wrmcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about World Refugee & Migration Council