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Changing the narrative on urban refugees
Cities for refugees: places of economic productivity, participation and wellbeing (Presentation)
Cities for refugees: places of economic productivity, participation and wellbeing (Video)
Documentary: Protracted displacement in an urban world
Cities for refugees: places of economic productivity, participation and wellbeing
Video: With a focus on refugee hosting in cities of East Africa and the Middle East, this event hosted by the Geneva Cities Hub in December 2022 included the first public presentation of emerging findings from our ground-breaking study.
About the project
This research project is the first large-scale study to compare experiences of protracted displacement in cities and camps – where people have been displaced for at least five years. A mixed method, comparative approach is applied across one camp and one city in four countries with large displaced populations: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Jordan and Kenya.
The research will provide evidenced analysis of the different outcomes for displaced people in camps and urban areas, focusing specifically on the wellbeing and economies of refugees, returnees and IDPs.
We have engaged a wide range of municipal stakeholders in the research process by establishing a participatory forum in each city. Local partners convene the forums regularly throughout the project, and will use emerging findings to inform the co-production of solutions to the challenges of urban displacement. With the ultimate goal of improving the self-reliance, wellbeing and productive economies of refugees, returnees and IDPs, the research will assess how cities can foster displaced people’s local inclusion, while benefitting host governments and communities. The research will generate evidence and recommendations for local, national and international policy makers on the pathways towards a more strategic urban response to protracted displacement.