Queer Forced Displacement Network Interim Co-Chair (2 Positions, Volunteer Role)

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QUEER FORCED DISPLACEMENT NETWORK

INTERIM CO-CHAIRS

Join the leadership team of a new global network supporting and advocating for LGBTQI+ individuals facing forced displacement.

Position Title: Interim Co-Chair (2 positions)

  • Position 1: Refugee-Led Organization*** (RLO) Representative
  • Position 2: Civil Society Organization (CSO) Representative

Host Organization: Rainbow Railroad

Location: Remote (with potential travel)

Term: One year (October 2026 – October 2027)

Reporting to: Rainbow Railroad, Serving as Interim Convening Chair.

Application Deadline: March 31, 2026

Note: This is an unpaid volunteer leadership position

***A Refugee-Led Organization (RLO) is an organization in which 50% or more of leadership positions (including board members, executive leadership, and senior decision-making roles) are held by individuals with lived experience of forced displacement as refugees, asylum seekers, or stateless persons.


ABOUT RAINBOW RAILROAD

Rainbow Railroad is an international nonprofit that helps at-risk LGBTQI+ get to safety. Our mission is to provide life-saving support for LGBTQI+ people experiencing discrimination, violence, and persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics (SOGIESC). We work at the intersection of LGBTQI+ identities and forced displacement as advocates, thought leaders, movement strategists, community organizers, and direct service providers. Since our founding in 2006, we have supported close to 40,000 at-risk LGBTQI+ people globally, built sustainable partnerships with hundreds of organizations and coalitions, and publicly engaged millions of people about the forced displacement crisis affecting the LGBTQI+ community.

Rainbow Railroad is a registered charity in Canada and a 501(c)3 organization in the United States.

ABOUT THE QUEER FORCED DISPLACEMENT NETWORK

The Queer Forced Displacement Network (QFDN) is a new global platform dedicated to advocacy, support, and protection for LGBTQI+ individuals experiencing forced displacement. It brings together grassroots refugee-led organizations, civil society, policymakers, researchers, and people with lived experience - stakeholders who have historically worked in silos despite shared goals.

The Network will officially launch at the Final Multi-Stakeholder Conference in May 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, marking the culmination of two years of regional roundtables, consultations, and research led by Rainbow Railroad, in collaboration with diverse global partners committed to advancing protection and solidarity for LGBTQI+ forcibly displaced persons.

For more information about the Network and the consultation phase, visit: https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/qfdi


THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a rare opportunity to shape a novel, community-driven global network from the ground up. Rainbow Railroad is seeking two exceptional leaders and passionate advocates for LGBTQI+  refugee justice to serve as Interim Co-Chairs through the Network's critical first year. You will have a direct hand in determining how this network operates, who holds power within it, and how it grows into a fully independent, member-led structure. These roles are critical to ensuring the Network is grounded in the lived experience of LGBTQI+ forcibly displaced persons, centering their voices and participation as the cornerstone of this new platform. 

Rainbow Railroad's Role During the Interim Period

Rainbow Railroad's role as Convening Chair is temporary and designed to facilitate the transition to an independent, member-governed network. During the Interim Term Rainbow Railroad will provide:

  • Strategic guidance and thought partnership to the Co-Chairs
  • Infrastructure support, including administrative, logistical, and communications resources
  • Fiscal oversight and resource planning, including sustainability planning and funding assessment


SCOPE OF WORK

Working closely with Rainbow Railroad, the Co-Chairs will focus on three core areas during the interim year. Responsibilities will be coordinated between Co-Chairs based on individual strengths, organizational capacities, and regional contexts.

1. Develop Governance Frameworks

Lay the democratic and operational foundation for a self-governing network 

  • Co-lead development of the Network's Terms of Reference and operational guidelines
  • Lead consultations with network stakeholders to determine:
    • Criteria for network membership;
    • Equitable voting mechanisms and decision-making structures;
    • Mechanisms for meaningful participation and leadership of refugee-led organizations, such as the creation of a Refugee Advisory Committee

2. Develop Regional Caucus Structure

Build the Network's geographic reach and ensure diverse regional representation.

  • Identify and invite organizations and individuals to join the Network, with attention to geographic  diversity
  • Outreach to establish regional caucus structures, identifying key anchor members in priority regions;
  • Support initial regional consultations or convenings (where funding permits)


 3. Establish a Leadership Transition Plan

Ensure the Network is ready to govern itself independently by the end of the interim term.

  • Design and document a leadership succession process for the Network, including criteria, timelines, and democratic selection mechanisms;
  • Document learnings and best practices from the interim period to inform future operations;
  • Develop clear pathways for transitioning to permanent governance structures.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Required:

  • For Position 1 (RLO Representative): Direct affiliation with or leadership role in a refugee-led organization* (*50% or more of leadership positions are held by individuals with lived experience of forced displacement as refugees, asylum seekers, or stateless persons.) 
  • For Position 2 (CSO Representative): Senior leadership role or significant decision-making authority within a civil society organization working on LGBTQI+ rights, forced displacement, or related human rights issues
  • Demonstrated commitment to LGBTQI+ rights and the protection of forcibly displaced persons;
  • Experience in organizational development, governance design, or network coordination.
  • Excellent facilitation and consensus-building skills, with the ability to navigate diverse stakeholder perspectives.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
  • Ability to work effectively in remote, multicultural, and multilingual contexts.
  • Available to commit to the time requirements outlined below.

Preferred:

  • Lived experience of SOGIESC-based persecution and/or forced displacement.
  • Experience working in or with communities in the Global South.
  • Knowledge of additional languages relevant to key displacement or transit contexts;
  • Prior experience with multi-stakeholder initiatives or international networks.
  • Understanding of refugee protection systems and humanitarian response mechanisms.
  • Track record of inclusive, trauma-informed approaches to community engagement.

TIME COMMITMENT

The interim co-chair positions are volunteer roles requiring an estimated 15-20 hours per month, with flexibility based on network activities and priorities. Engagement may vary throughout the year.

Co-chairs should expect to participate in:

  • Monthly coordination meetings with Rainbow Railroad and fellow Co-Chair
  • Regular virtual meetings with network members and working groups
  • Regional convenings or consultations (if funding permits)
  • Periodic reporting and documentation activities


TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  • Volunteer leadership positions; no compensation
  • Fixed one-year term (October 2026 – October 2027) with renewal subject to governance decisions made during the interim period
  • Administrative and logistical support will be provided by Rainbow Railroad's QFDI team.
  • Access to Rainbow Railroad's organizational resources, platforms, and networks as appropriate.
  • Travel expenses for network-related activities will be covered when funding permits;
  • Co-chairs are expected to adhere to principles of transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in all network-related activities


SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be accepted from February 18 to March 31, 2026. A Rainbow Railroad selection committee will review applications and conduct interviews in April 2026, with decisions announced before the May 2026 Multi-Stakeholder Conference in Bangkok.

Selection will prioritize: Demonstrated leadership experience, geographic and organizational diversity across the two positions, and availability for the full one-year term.


HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit:

  1. Letter of interest (maximum 2 pages)  outlining your motivation, relevant experience, and your vision for the Network's first year;
  2. Current CV or resume (maximum 3 pages)-
  3. Brief organizational profile


Applications should be submitted at the application link here on Collage

For questions about the position or application process: QFDI@rainbowrailroad.org.


COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Rainbow Railroad and the QFDI are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable global movement. We strongly encourage applications from individuals representing diverse geographic regions, racial and ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, disabilities, and lived experiences of displacement. Lived experience of SOGIESC-based persecution and forced displacement is a profound form of expertise, and we are committed to centering these voices in our leadership.


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