The program supports research specifically targeted to address forced displacement in five thematic areas: education, gender, health, jobs, and social protection. Grants are given to top research institutions to produce analyses exploring the following themes:
Gender I Preventing Social Conflict and Promoting Social Cohesion in Forced Displacement Contexts I Health I Social Protection I Education I Jobs
Gender
Women and children who are forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence, and natural disasters are highly vulnerable to hardships and human rights violations. According to available data, in 2019, 51 % of the displaced were women, and 48 % were children. The program addresses gender inequality through a series of new empirical analyses across a range of settings that looks at the gender dimensions of forced displacement.
Gender Dimensions of Forced Displacement (GDFD) Research Program
Blog
Policy and Analysis
- Key Development Challenges Around Internal Displacement
- Key Challenges for Refugee Policies and Programs
- The Gender Dimensions of Forced Displacement: A Synthesis of New Research
Poverty and Inequality
- Differences in Household Composition: Hidden Dimensions of Poverty and Displacement in Somalia
- A Multi-Country Analysis of Multidimensional Poverty in Contexts of Forced Displacement
- Multidimensional Poverty, Gender, and Forced Displacement: A Multi-Country, Intrahousehold Analysis in Sub-Saharan Africa
- How Does Poverty Differ Among Refugees? Taking a Gender Lens to the Data on Syrian Refugees in Jordan
- The Impact of Protracted Displacement on Syrian Refugees in Jordan: The Evolution of Household Composition and Poverty Rates
Gender-based Violence
- Conflict, Displacement and Overlapping Vulnerabilities: Understanding Risk Factors for Gender-based Violence among Displaced Women in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
- Intimate Partner Violence and Household Decision-making Autonomy: Effects of the Malian Conflict on Women
- The Risk That Travels with You: Links between Forced Displacement, Conflict and Intimate Partner Violence in Colombia and Liberia
- Effect of Armed Conflict on Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria
- Conflict and Girl Child Marriage: Global Evidence
Gender Norms
- Do Gender Norms Change with Conflict-Induced Displacement? The Case of Colombia
- How Do Gender Norms Shape Education and Domestic Work Outcomes? The Case of Syrian Refugee Adolescents in Jordan
Livelihoods and Development
- Forced Displacement, Gender, and Livelihoods: Refugees in Ethiopia
- The double burden of female displacement: Survey data evidence on gendered livelihoods and welfare from protracted forcibly displaced and host community women in El Fasher in Darfur, Sudan
- Coping with Compounding Challenges in Conflict Crises : Evidence from North-east Nigeria
Preventing Social Conflict and Promoting Social Cohesion in Forced Displacement Contexts
This study examines how public policies can address social inequalities that lead to or are the consequence of forced displacement crises. Through the lens of social inequalities, the study looks at the roots of social conflicts and population displacements, how forced displacement crises can be prevented or how they can be quickly stabilized at early stages before they become chronic problems that require complex sustainable solutions. The study will focus on critical inequalities such as those of income, opportunities, access to services or gender inequalities, between and within displaced populations and host communities.
Brief: Forced Displacement and Social Cohesion
Read the summary report: Social Cohesion and Forced Displacement: A Synthesis of New Research
Read the blogs:
- Inclusive policies are needed to help refugees and host communities flourish
- The social and economic benefits of refugee arrivals
Read the background papers:
1. The role of baseline conditions in host communities
- Forced Migration, Social Cohesion and Conflict: The 2015 Refugee Inflow in Germany
- Labor Market Integration, Local Conditions and Inequalities: Evidence from Refugees in Switzerland
- How do Shared Experiences of Economic Shocks Impact Refugees and Host Communities: Evidence from Afghan Refugees in Iran
- Refugee Return and Social Cohesion
2. Socioeconomic conditions, attitudes, and behaviors of host communities
- Social Cohesion and Refugee Host Interactions: Evidence from East Africa
- Attitudes and Policies toward Refugees: Evidence from Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Inclusive Refugee-Hosting in Uganda Improves Local Development and Prevents Public Backlash
- Immigration, Labor Markets and Discrimination: Evidence from the Venezuelan Exodus in Peru
- Hosting New Neighbors: Perspectives of Host Communities on Social Cohesion in Eastern DRC
- The Geography of Displacement, Refugees’ Camps and Social Conflicts
- Refugees, Diversity and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Inequality and Security in the Aftermath of Internal Population Displacement Shocks: Evidence from Nigeria
- The Effects of Internally Displaced Peoples on Consumption and Inequality in Mali
- Policy Preferences in Response to Large Migration Inflows
- Long-term Effects of the 1923 Mass Refugee Inflow on Social Cohesion in Greece
- Local Peace Agreements and the Return of IDPs with Perceived ISIL Affiliation in Iraq
- What it Takes to Return : UN Peacekeeping and the Safe Return of Displaced People (English)
- Building Stability Between Host and Refugee Communities: Evidence from a TVET Program in Jordan and Lebanon
- Distributional Policies and Social Cohesion in a High-Unemployment Setting
- Why Student Aid Matters? Roadblocks to the Transition into Higher Education for Forced Migrants in Chile
- Social Cohesion, Economic Security, and Forced Displacement in the Long-Run: Evidence from Rural Colombia
- Extortion and Civic Engagement among Guatemalan Deportees
- Forced Displacement, Exposure to Conflict and Long-run Education and Income Inequality: Evidence from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Displacement and Social Empowerment: Evidence from Surveys of IDPs in Iraq, the Philippines, and Uganda
- Superstitions and Civilian Displacement: Evidence from the Colombian Conflict
- Displacement and return in the internet Era: Social media for monitoring migration decisions in Northern Syria
Watch the events:
- Forced Displacement and Social Cohesion: New Evidence from Europe | Dec 27, 2022
- Understanding Social Cohesion: Internally Displaced People and Their Hosts | Oct 27, 2022
(This event does not have a recording)
Launch event:
- The global launch of Social Cohesion and Forced Displacement: A Synthesis of New Research. This report synthesizes findings from a joint series of 26 working papers on forced displacement and social cohesion. This analysis offers actionable insights for policymakers and development practitioners on mitigating the negative effects of displacement and effectively promoting social cohesion.
Watch the short animated video:
Health
In fragile and conflict-affected situations, the influx of large numbers of refugees and internally displaced people can severely stress health systems. This research theme provides practical programming and policy guidance to national and international actors who are involved in directing and funding health responses in situations of forced displacement. It identifies optimal approaches that respond to the health needs of displaced populations, while also strengthening health systems for the host populations.
Read the report:
World Bank Consortium : The Big Questions in Forced Displacement and Health
Read the country reports:
- Bangladesh Country Report
- Colombia Country Report
- Democratic Republic of the Congo Country Report
- Jordan Country Report
Read the knowledge briefs:
- Preventing and Mitigating Indirect Health Impacts of COVID-19 on Displaced Populations in Humanitarian Settings I Release event
- Family Violence Protection in the Context of COVID-19 and Forced Displacement I Release event
- Addressing the Human Capital Dimension of the COVID-19 Response in Forced Displacement Settings I Release event
- Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia on utilization of medical services by Venezuelan migrants and Colombian citizens
Watch the event:
Social Protection
To address the longer duration and urbanization of displacement situations, there is a growing interest in linking humanitarian assistance to national social protection systems that meet the needs of those displaced and build capacity to support national programs.
This research aims to better understand how social protection systems and humanitarian systems can work together to meet the needs of displaced populations—including vulnerable households in host communities —and how these systems can improve social cohesion between these two groups.
Read our report:
Social Protection Responses to Forced Displacement
Three country reports:
- Integrating assistance to the displaced into a social protection system in Cameroon. An ideal, but in whose interests?
- Social protection responses to forced displacement in Colombia
- Humanitarian assistance and social protection responses to the forcibly displaced in Greece
Four thematic papers:
- Humanitarian assistance and social protection in contexts of forced displacement: effects on social cohesion
- Basic needs and wellbeing in displacement settings: the role of humanitarian assistance and social protection
- Adjusting social protection delivery to support displaced populations
- What can existing microdata tell us about transfer receipt among host and displaced populations?
Four toolkits:
- Linking social protection and humanitarian assistance: A toolkit to support social cohesion in displacement settings
- Linking social protection and humanitarian assistance: A toolkit to support basic needs and wellbeing in displacement settings
- Adjusting social protection delivery to support displaced populations: A toolkit
- Linking social protection and humanitarian assistance: Guidance to assess the factors and actors that determine an optimal approach in a displacement setting. A toolkit
Literature review:
Analytical framework:
Media outputs:
- Fragility forum podcast
- Key findings: social protection responses to forced displacement
- Re-shaping the migration story: centring the hopes, decisions and experiences of those on the move
Dissemination events:
- Greece dissemination event in May 2022: "Social Protection and Social Integration of Displaced Populations in Greece Today"
- Colombia dissemination event in June 2022: Social protection responses to forced displacement in Colombia
- Cameroon event for FCDO (webinar) in July 2022 (closed door, no recording)
- Presentation of the social cohesion thematic paper at the IMISCOE conference in July 2022
- Presentation at the informal hangouts for the Online Community for Social Protection in Crisis Contexts, 5 October 2022 (public, but no recording available)
- Presentation of Greece findings at the Hellenic Sociological Society, 14 October 2022 (in Greek)
Blogs:
- Addressing the protection gap in Greece
- Protecting the most vulnerable and promoting integration in Colombia
- Using WhatsApp to collect data on displaced Venezuelans, internally displaced populations, and host communities in Colombia during COVID-19 lockdowns
- Quick wins aren’t the way to coherence between social protection and humanitarian assistance in Cameroon
- Five things we learnt about displacement in 2022
Further planned dissemination:
- Humanitarian Policy Group themed newsletter on the project – January 2023
Education
This research theme focuses on the implementation, impact, costs, and cost-effectiveness of education interventions for forcibly displaced populations and host communities, as well as what programs and policies are needed to provide inclusive and quality education for forcibly displaced populations.
Findings of the education global study were presented on September 29 in Geneva at a workshop titled ‘Evidence in Action’, jointly organized by the UNHCR, the JDC and the Building the Evidence Program. The presentation was featured in the workshop session titled ‘Learning and doing: Institutionalizing recent findings on education for refugees’.
Read our reports:
Case Studies:
- Case Study from Colombia
- Case Study from Jordan
- Case Study from Pakistan
- Case Study from Chad
Blogs:
- What is the cost of educating refugee children? A well-funded, effective education system for all
- What works to support inclusion: Four key findings from country case studies
Presentations:
- Including Forcibly Displaced Children in National Education Systems: Evidence on What Works
- Integrating Refugees and IDPs into National Education Systems: Three Challenges and Approaches
- Forced Displacement and Education: Building the Evidence for What Works
Jobs
With an increase in the duration of displacement, a policy shift is underway from focusing on humanitarian aid to development funding to include livelihood and jobs oriented funding. This approach focuses on long-term, positive socioeconomic impacts for both displaced and host communities. It emphasizes self-reliance for refugees and realizing their own ambitions. This research examines the cost effectiveness of proposed livelihood and jobs interventions in a displacement context and the high-level advocacy and policy or legal changes required to make refugees self-reliant.
Read our reports:
- Cost-Effectiveness of Jobs Projects in Conflict and Forced Displacement Contexts
- Impacts of Forced Displacement on Labor Markets in Host Communities, including a comparative case study of Colombia, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Uganda (forthcoming)
- How to Cope with a Refugee Shock? Evidence from Uganda
Explore our novel database:
- Database (download .xlsx file)
Read our blogs:
Watch our events:
