Ismail Saxafi

Ismail Hussein Ismail (Ismail Saxafi) is a fellow in Refugees International’s Refugee Fellows Program. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Aider Refugee Initiative, where he leads policy-driven programs focused on refugee empowerment, youth inclusion, and child protection. His work advocates for refugee-led solutions and champions the full implementation of Uganda’s Refugee Act—especially the right to work. Aider has trained more than 500 refugee youth, influenced national startup policy discussions, and brought refugee voices to platforms like IGAD, the East African Community, and Uganda’s Parliament.

Follow him on Linkedin at Ismail Saxafi.