Nansen Refugee Award Global Laureate
Articles & Features
Explore Abdullahi Mire’s published work, media coverage, and opinion pieces.
The Articles section is a curated library of stories, features, and interviews that document my journey—from Dadaab to becoming a global advocate for refugee education. These pieces were published in some of the world’s leading media outlets and capture my work, impact, and the voices of the communities I serve.
Whether you're a journalist, researcher, partner, or just curious, this page offers real insights into the mission that drives me every day.
Explore, share, and help amplify the power of refugee-led change.
Featured Profiles & Award Coverage
1.“Journalist and former refugee wins UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Award for championing refugee education in Kenya”
– UNHCR, Nov 28, 2023
2.“The 2023 Nansen Award Winner is Abdullahi Mire, a former refugee, who was resettled in Norway”
– International Diplomat, Dec 17, 2023
3.“Former Somali Refugee Wins Prestigious UN Award”
– VOA News, Nov 28, 2023
4.“Somali Journalist Abdullahi Mire Wins the 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award”
– Kuhelika Ghosh / Brittle Paper, Dec 19, 2023
5.“Somali education champion wins top UNHCR’s Nansen Award”
– TRT Global, Nov 28, 2023
6.Somali Youth Educator Bags Major UN Refugee Award”
– IDN-InDepthNews, Nov 29, 2023
Opinion & Reporting Pieces
1.“Kenya’s Dadaab struggles with new influx of Somalis fleeing drought”
– By Abdullahi Mire / UNHCR, Jun 2, 2023
2.“'Butchered': The Kenyan FGM clinic serving Europeans”
– By Abdullahi Mire / Al Jazeera English, Mar 23, 2020
3.“'I wish I was a boy': The Kenyan girls fighting period poverty”
– By Abdullahi Mire / Al Jazeera English, Feb 24, 2020
4.“Victims of al‑Shabab school attacks share their stories”
– By Abdullahi Mire / Al Jazeera English, Jan 30, 2020
5.“On International Women’s Day, Rep. Ilhan Omar inspires girls in a refugee camp in Kenya to dream big”
– By Abdullahi Mire / Al Jazeera English, Jan 30, 2020
6.“In a Kenyan refugee camp, Rep. Ilhan Omar sparks dreams, not controversy”
– By Abdullahi Mire & Max Bearak / MYSA (Mediamax) Verified, Mar 8, 2019
7.“Wary Somali refugees pack for trip to US ... again”
– By Abdullahi Mire / Modern Ghana / Yahoo, Feb 7, 2017
Academic & Insightful Features
1.Localised refugee education: understanding nationally accredited refugee-led schools in Kenya’s Dadaab camps”
– Taylor & Francis Journal, 2024
2.Muck Rack Journalist Profile
– Featured across The Washington Post, Al Jazeera English, Yahoo, UNHCR and others
Videos Featuring Abdullahi Mire
1. UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award Laureate (Official Video)
2. UNHCR Nansen Award Ceremony 2023 Full Live Stream
4. In Conversation: Education is the Greatest Equalizer
5. Dadaab Stories by Abdullahi MIre
6. CGTN Africa video on Abdullahi mire
7. AlJazeera - The Stream - Dadaab Diaries
8. AlJazeera - The Stream - Covid Impact On Refugees
Forums & International Speaking Engagements
Championing Refugee Voices on Global Stages
From Refugee to Global Voice
As a former refugee turned global advocate, I have been honored to share my story, insights, and experience across international platforms. From Geneva to Accra, I have used these opportunities to advocate for refugee-led innovation, equitable access to education, and the power of grassroots action. My voice represents not just my journey, but the voices of millions displaced and striving to shape their own futures.
2023 Speaking Engagements & Panels
Moderator – GRF 2023 Side Event on Digital Protection
Event: Global Refugee Forum (GRF 2023)
Date: December 2023
Role: Moderator
Details: Led the UN side event on Digital Protection, focusing on combating online harms such as hate speech and misinformation in the context of refugee and stateless communities.
Panel Participant – IKEA Foundation Informal Breakfast Panel
Event: IKEA Foundation & Partners Breakfast Panel
Date: 14 December 2023
Location: Hilton Geneva Hotel
Details: Participated in an informal high-level panel on refugee-led innovation and the role of the private sector in driving impact.
Speaker – Africa Forum on Displacement
Event: Africa Forum on Displacement: Private Sector Solutions
Date: 1–3 November 2023
Location: Accra, Ghana
Details: Presented strategies for refugee-led fundraising and grassroots innovation, sharing lessons from my work with RYEH.
2024/25 Speaking Engagements & Panels
Keynote Speaker – Religion and Migration Forum
Event: Religion and Migration Forum: Building Bridges of Inclusion across Europe
Date: 23–24 May 2024
Location: Palermo, Italy
Details: Delivered keynote address highlighting the role of religious leaders in fostering interfaith dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and grassroots refugee inclusion across Europe.
Panelist – UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in Africa
Event: UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in Africa
Date: 10 December 2024
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Details: Shared insights on the transformative role of higher education in achieving the African Union’s Year of Education objectives and accelerating sustainable development across the continent.
Panelist – The Refugee Experience Symposium
Event: The Refugee Experience Symposium: From Fiction to Lived Reality
Date: 2024
Location: Liwan Library, Doha, Qatar
Details: Participated in a panel discussion exploring personal and collective refugee narratives to promote public understanding and empathy around forced displacement.
Keynote Speaker – International Conference on Forced Migration
Event: International Conference on Forced Migration
Date: 26–29 May 2025
Location: Toronto, Canada
Details: Delivered keynote on Canadian, regional, and international responses to forced migration, addressing global displacement trends and innovative localized solutions.
Conference Link: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/carfms25/home/
Guest of Honour – High-Level Networking Dinner
Event: Building Connections and Recognizing the Impact of RLOs
Date: 2024
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Details: Featured guest at high-level dinner co-organized by RYEH and R-SEAT, spotlighting the role of refugee-led organizations and commemorating the return of the Global Nansen Award to Kenya.