4th JDC Research Conference on Forced Displacement
June 4-6, 2026 - Bangkok, ThailandThe World Bank – UNHCR Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement (JDC) is pleased to announce its 4th Research Conference on Forced Displacement, organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics of Chulalongkorn University, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the World Bank.
The Research Conferences held so far have contributed to JDC’s objectives by providing an ideal space for stimulating the production of quantitative research on forced displacement, offering a platform for interaction between researchers and practitioners, and identifying thematic, population and geographical gaps in our knowledge on forced displacement.
We are happy to continue the important collaboration with our partners on filling evidence gaps on the forcibly displaced and stateless persons, with a specific focus on low- and middle-income countries.
Call for papers
The next Conference seeks to address in particular the following topics:
- Quantitative analysis of drivers and effects of self-reliance among the forcibly displaced, stateless people and the host communities.
- Quantitative research on pathways to and the impact of economic inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless people, including evidence on skills development, job integration, private sector investments, and entrepreneurship.
- Socioeconomic evidence on the return of displaced populations, reintegration challenges, and durable solutions.
- Methodological innovations in quantitative forced displacement research (e.g., sampling, data collection methods).
- Operational and policy impact of data and evidence in displacement settings.
To be considered for inclusion in the program, completed papers or extended abstracts should be submitted to [email protected] with the subject line “Submission to the 4th Research Conference on Forced Displacement” by January 5, 2026. Papers and extended abstracts should be submitted in English. The papers for the final program will be selected by a scientific committee.
The conference will take place in person. For any questions please email [email protected] or contact Domenico Tabasso at [email protected].
Please note that the Joint Data Center and organizing partners cannot cover travel and accommodation costs for conference participants.
Speakers
Andrés Moya
Andrés Moya is Associate Professor in Economics at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia and currently a Commissioner for the 2024-2025 Lancet Commission on Health, Conflict, and Forced Displacement. His research focuses on understanding the consequences of conflict and forced displacement, and how they thrust people into poverty through economic, psychological, and behavioral channels. A member or affiliated researcher at different networks, he is also part of a research initiative to understand the impacts of the forced displacement of Venezuelan refugees in Colombia and document the impacts of different policies and programs to support this population.
Jean-François Maystadt
Jean-François Maystadt is Research Associate Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique – FNRS, Professor at Economic School of Louvain, UCLouvain, and Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University, UK. He is a development economist specialized in the study of Conflicts, Climate Change and Migration, with a research focus on the causes and consequences of conflicts and forced migration mainly in developing countries. He has published extensively in some of the most prestigious economic academic journals, and he is currently invited lecturer on the economics of conflict at Sciences Po, France.
More speakers will be announced on this page.
Organizers
