The network increases understanding of research centres in refugee-hosting countries.

The Local Engagement Refugee Research Network was launched in October 2018[1] and is hosted at Carleton University's faculty of Public Affairs.

[2] From 2018, LERRN collaborated with the International Development Research Centre to increase IDRC's awareness and understanding of researchers in low and middle income countries working on forced displacement.

[3] The research was informed by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees data about refugee-hosting countries; LERRN identified research centres located in the same places as displaced people.

[3][4] Analysis of this work highlighted that a very small percentage of publications on refugee-related issues were produced by people who are based in academic institutions in refugee-hosting nations.