Update on the socio-economic performance of refugees and host communities in Uganda
Update based on the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) 2023/24 and complementary data sources.
Overall objectives
The main objective of this activity is to produce an updated and comprehensive assessment of the socioeconomic inclusion of refugees in Uganda, drawing on the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) 2023/24 and complementary data sources. Uganda hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa. However, continued arrivals, protracted displacement, and substantial reductions in humanitarian assistance are placing increasing pressure on refugee households and host communities.
By leveraging nationally representative survey data, the activity will generate robust policy-relevant evidence on refugee welfare and on the structural factors shaping their socioeconomic integration. In a context of constrained resources, the analysis will also provide indicative estimates of the costs associated with integrating refugees into national service systems. This evidence will support more efficient targeting of humanitarian assistance and inform longer‑term, development‑oriented responses that advance self-reliance and sustainable solutions.
Activity description
The activity will produce updated estimates of refugee welfare and socioeconomic inclusion using data from the 2023/24 Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS), complemented by the 2022 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) and other relevant datasets. It will generate revised measures of poverty, food security, and self-reliance, and assess disparities in education, health, employment, and income between refugees and host communities, where comparable data are available.
The analysis will also assess the welfare implications of recent reductions in food and cash assistance, drawing on World Food Programme (WFP) vulnerability monitoring systems and complementary survey insights. To better understand broader structural constraints of socioeconomic inclusion, the activity will examine how access to land, markets, services, and economic opportunities shapes refugee well-being and inclusion. The analysis will be further strengthened by geospatial data and complementary evidence.
The activity will produce two main deliverables:
– A policy brief assessing the welfare implications of recent reductions in food assistance, drawing on simulations and complementary vulnerability data; and
– A comprehensive analytical report on refugees and host communities which will consolidate the full socioeconomic analysis and be incorporated into the Uganda Poverty and Equity Assessment 3.0.
Together these outputs will strengthen the evidence base for policy dialogue, operational planning, and developmental programming in Uganda.
Engagement with partners
The activity will be implemented in close collaboration with key national and international partners. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics and UNHCR, who previously collaborated on the 2018 Refugee Survey and several rounds of high‑frequency phone surveys, will provide essential data inputs and operational context. Engagement with WFP will support the analysis of food security and the implications of assistance reductions, drawing on their vulnerability monitoring systems, and complementary survey work. The World Bank and UNHCR will lead the analytical work and contribute to policy dialogue and dissemination of the findings.
Consultations with government institutions, development and humanitarian partners, and other stakeholders, including private sector actors where relevant, will ensure the analysis responds to national policy priorities and informs operational decision-making.
Background and Context
Uganda hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa and remains a key destination for displaced people from neighboring countries. The country has established a progressive refugee policy framework, supporting access to land, services, and economic opportunities, fostering pathways to self‑reliance and inclusion within national systems. However, continued arrivals, protracted displacement, and declining humanitarian funding, are placing increasing pressure on refugee households and host communities, particularly in areas already facing high poverty and limited services.
The need for current nationally representative data to assess refugee welfare and inclusion under evolving conditions is essential. Strengthening the evidence base will support government leadership, inform policy and operational planning, and guide investments that promote self-reliance and sustainable responses for refugees and host communities.