This paper analyses how proximity to refugees affects the welfare and economic activity of host communities in Uganda. Uganda hosts more than 1.4 million refugees, living across 31 settlements in 13 districts. Despite their freedom of movement, most refugees remain in official settlements to access assistance from national and international agencies.
JDC Literature Review
Results for: 2022
Heterogeneous Effects of Forced Migration on the Female Labor Market: The Venezuelan Exodus in Colombia
This paper examines the impact of large-scale Venezuelan migration on the female labor market in Colombia. More than 1.5 million Venezuelans migrated to Colombia in the period 2016–2019 due to the economic and social crises in Venezuela. The analysis is based on data from the Colombian household survey for the period 2013–2019. The authors exploit the variation in the concentration of Venezuelans across Colombian departments over time. They consider the non-random settlement of Venezuelans across Columbian departments by modeling (using an instrumental variables approach) the share of people living in each state of Venezuela in 2011 (before the Venezuelan exodus) and the distance between those states and the departments of Colombia.
Experiences of armed conflicts and forced migration among women from countries in the Middle East, Balkans, and Africa: a systematic review of qualitative studies
This paper provides a systematic review of literature on women’s experiences of armed conflicts and forced migration, focusing on women in or from countries in the Middle East, Balkans, or Africa. The literature indicates that refugee women’s exposure to conflict, violence and displacement leads to significant health and mental health consequences.
Syrian refugee women’s negotiation of higher education opportunities in Jordan and Lebanon
This paper examines how gender norms shape young Syrian refugee women’s engagement in higher education in Lebanon and Jordan, and highlights ways in which displacement has contributed to shifting gender norms.
How do policy approaches affect refugee economic outcomes? Insights from studies of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon
This paper examines how different policy environments in Jordan and Lebanon have shaped economic outcomes for Syrian refugees, with a focus on education, work, social assistance, and welfare outcomes. In Jordan, the population census identified 1.3 million Syrians living in the country, of whom around 650,000 are recorded as registered refugees by UNHCR. In Lebanon, the government estimates that Syrian refugees numbered 1.5 million in 2021, while UNHCR Lebanon reports 850,000 registered Syrian refugees.
Forced migration: evidence and policy challenges
This article presents a summary of Volume 38, Issue 3 of the Oxford Review of Economic Policy, which focuses on forced migration. The issue explores: (1) what are the mechanisms by which refugees should be managed, and what frameworks should be used for supporting them? (2) how can policy support the integration of refugees into host economies and what are the likely consequences of this integration? (3) how are host communities likely to respond to the influx of refugees, and how can policy help to smooth this transition? And (4) what role can policy play to encourage resilience among refugees and IDPs and support their return?
Older Refugees and Internally Displaced People in African Countries: Findings from a Scoping Review of Literature
This paper summarizes the peer-reviewed published research on older refugees and IDPs in Africa. The authors synthesize the main findings from this literature and compare it to the knowledge base in other regions. According to UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), people aged 60 years and older make up 4 percent of refugees and asylum-seekers and 6 percent of IDPs worldwide. According to UNHCR data, more than 400,000 displaced persons in Africa were aged 60 years and older in 2019.
Planning sustainable electricity solutions for refugee settlements in sub-Saharan Africa
This paper examines the electricity needs, potential technical solutions and associated costs for almost 300 refugee settlements in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that around 80 percent of refugees in camps burn biomass such as firewood for cooking and around 90 percent have limited or no access to electricity.
Refugee inflows, surplus farm labor, and crop marketization in rural Africa
This article investigates the long-term effects of refugee inflows on host farmers in Tanzania, focusing on effects in labor and crop markets. The Kagera region in the northwest of Tanzania received large-scale inflows of refugee from Burundi and Rwanda in the early 1990s. The Kagera region is remote and impoverished, and most local households engage in subsistence agriculture.
Regional Spillovers from the Venezuelan Crisis: Migration Flows and Their Impact on Latin America and the Caribbean
This paper evaluates the economic impacts of Venezuelan migrants on host countries and the implications for future policy responses. Since August 2022, nearly 7 million Venezuelans (23 percent of the population) have fled their country due to economic collapse (a contraction of over 75 percent of real GDP), deteriorating basic services, and insecurity.