Adapting Survivor-Centered Tools for Environmental Displacement: Workshopping Freedom Lifemap for Refugee Protection

Date & Time
Jun 16, 2026 | 13.30 - 15.00

Participants
Angela Robinson, University of California Irvine (United States)

As environmental displacement increases globally, refugees face heightened vulnerabilities to trafficking and exploitation. This interactive workshop addresses critical gaps in protection tools by examining how survivor-centered methodologies can be reimagined for environmental peacebuilding contexts. The workshop introduces Freedom Lifemap, a technology-based participatory assessment tool originally designed to give human trafficking survivors control of evaluating their own pathway to well-being. The assessment uses survivor-informed indicators and has proven effective in improving outcomes in under-resourced environments. Participants will collaboratively identify special considerations for adapting the tool's digital interface, indicators, and implementation protocols for refugee populations affected by climate displacement. The session explores intersections between humanitarian and anti-trafficking sectors; examines opportunities and risks of digital technologies in protection work; and advances localized, participant-controlled approaches to monitoring and evaluation. Workshop outcomes will include preliminary adaptation frameworks and recommendations for pilot implementation, contributing to the growing toolkit of survivor-centered methodologies in environmental displacement contexts.