RTSW-Refugees' TV and Stories Worldwide.

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Introduction
Refugees’ TV and Stories Worldwide (RTSW), the digital media arm of Let’s Help International (LHI) , is at the forefront of advancing the Localization Agenda. Through media and storytelling, RTSW aims to amplify the voices of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), ensuring their experiences are represented authentically and impactfully. The Advancing Localization Agenda Project seeks to foster meaningful engagement between refugees, IDPs, local actors, decision-makers, and international organizations to build inclusive and sustainable solutions for global displacement challenges.

Context
The Localization Agenda advocates for shifting leadership, decision-making, and resources from international organizations to local actors. This shift is especially crucial in refugee and IDP contexts, where displaced individuals often lack influence in humanitarian responses. While international focus on localization has grown, power imbalances remain. RTSW seeks to bridge this gap through media, allowing refugees and local actors to share their stories and perspectives directly, advocating for policies that prioritize local leadership and more equitable collaborations with international actors.

Mission
RTSW is committed to empowering refugees, IDPs, and local actors by amplifying their voices through media, fostering collaboration among international organizations, governments, and local communities to advance the Localization Agenda.

Vision
RTSW envisions a humanitarian system where refugees, IDPs, and local actors lead the responses to their own challenges, while international organizations and governments play supportive roles. This will contribute to a more localized, inclusive, and sustainable humanitarian landscape.

Objectives

1. Facilitate dialogue among decision-makers, international organizations, governments, and local actors to advance localization in refugee and IDP settings.
2. Provide refugees and IDPs with platforms to share their experiences and advocate for policies that address their unique needs.
3. Strengthen the capacity of local actors in media production and advocacy to enhance their collaboration with international organizations and governments.
4. Promote inclusive partnerships where local actors share decision-making power with international bodies.

Key Activities

1. Storytelling & Media Production:
   RTSW produces documentaries and interviews that showcase the lived experiences of refugees and IDPs, serving as advocacy tools to inform international and local stakeholders of the importance of localization.
2. Capacity Building:
   RTSW offers training in media production and advocacy to local actors, refugees, and IDPs, equipping them with the skills to share their stories and influence decisions that affect them.
3. Advocacy & Awareness Campaigns:
   RTSW advocates for increased support for locally-led initiatives, highlighting the importance of localization to international organizations and decision-makers.
4. Multi-stakeholder Engagement:
   RTSW facilitates roundtable discussions and media projects that promote collaboration among international organizations, local actors, and refugees.
5. Community Media Platforms:
   RTSW supports the development of community-driven media platforms where local actors and displaced persons can share their stories, helping to strengthen local networks.

The Localization Agenda: Key Components

1. Capacity Building:
   RTSW enhances the leadership and advocacy skills of local actors, fostering a more empowered network of refugee- and IDP-led organizations.
2. Direct Funding for Local Actors:
   RTSW advocates for direct funding for refugee- and IDP-led initiatives to ensure they have the financial means to continue their work.
3. Equitable Partnerships:
   RTSW promotes equitable partnerships between local actors, international organizations, and governments, ensuring local communities have decision-making power.
4. Policy Influence:
   By amplifying the voices of displaced persons, RTSW aims to influence humanitarian policies to be more reflective of local needs and contexts.
5. Sustainability:
   RTSW prioritizes long-term, locally driven solutions to ensure sustainable humanitarian responses even after international actors withdraw.

Engaging Stakeholders
RTSW emphasizes the active involvement of decision-makers, international organizations, and local actors in shaping the Localization Agenda through:

• Roundtable discussions, media campaigns, and collaborative projects to promote equitable partnerships and policy change.
• Documentaries and media content that highlight the role of local actors in humanitarian responses.

Conclusion
The Advancing Localization Agenda Project by RTSW is an essential initiative for transforming the global humanitarian system. By elevating the voices of refugees, IDPs, and local communities, RTSW ensures that humanitarian responses are inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. Through media, advocacy, and multi-stakeholder engagement, RTSW is reshaping how the world approaches displacement and localization.

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