Click on the headings to see all the research reports, summaries, policy briefings and working papers.
Click again on a yellow document title to view the PDF file.
| Date | Title | Summary | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bridging the gap: environmental change, mobility and policy in Ethiopia’s Somali Region and Somaliland | This study critically considers the extent to which – and ways that – migration represents a strategy for adapting to environmental change among communities in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State and Somaliland’s Togdheer and Maroodijex administrative regions. | |
| 2023 | South Sudan’s decades of displacement: Understanding return and questioning reintegration | This study explores the experiences of displacement, return and reintegration among South Sudanese refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). The overall objective of the research is to understand the factors influencing displacement within and from South Sudan, and return to South Sudan from refugee hosting areas. | |
| 2023 | Conflict and displacement in Ethiopia: the case of Benishangul-Gumuz Regional Sate and Konso Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region | The aim of this study is to investigate the causes of the current conflict in Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State (BGRS) and the Konso Zone, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) and thereby to examine the short- and long-term humanitarian responses, as well as durable solutions to these crises. | |
| 2022 | The pursuit of a livelihood: women migrant workers and gendered experiences of migration from Uganda to the gulf countries | This report examines gendered labour migration in Uganda, the process of decision making leading to internal and/or international migration, and the impact thereof. It develops a body of knowledge from migrants’ viewpoint that was previously absent. It further analyses gender-specific experiences of return and reintegration into communities and families, in addition to capturing women’s unique accounts of their migration processes. | |
| 2022 | Asylum in urban spaces: The case of refugees in cities in Uganda | Based on an exploratory fieldwork in Arua, Kampala and Mbarara this rapid review brings into focus the case of urban refugees in Uganda as it examines the existing gap between the country’s hailed national refugee policies and strategies on the one hand, and experiences of urban refugees on the ground on the other. | |
| 2022 | The Global Compacts on Migration and Refugees: taking stock of progress and the way forward in the Horn of Africa | This rapid desk review examines the responses to the signing of the GCM and the GCR in the HoA and focuses particularly on the ways in which the compacts have affected the programming undertaken by the EUTF in the region. | |
| 2022 | A review of disability inclusion for refugees in Ethiopia and recommendations for future practice | This rapid review synthesises information on the experiences, protection needs, barriers to and opportunities for providing protection for refugees living with disabilities in Ethiopia, the second largest refugee hosting country in Africa, and identifies key gaps and future priorities for policy and programming. | |
| 2022 | How does technical and vocational education and training (TVET) influence dynamics of mobility and conflict? Lessons from the Horn of Africa | This study considers the assumptions underlying TVET and employment generation programmes funded by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) in Africa by examining the influence of these programmes on young people’s decisions around mobility and engagement in conflict. | |
| 2021 | Land, climate change and internal migration among the Wolayta youth of southwest Ethiopia | This study investigates the combined impact of land scarcity and fragmentation, and climate change on the high incidence of migration of youth from the Wolayta Zone in Ethiopia’s Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region. | |
| 2021 | Mapping the refugee journey towards employment and entrepreneurship: Obstacles and opportunities for private sector engagement in refugee-hosting areas in Kenya | This report presents the results of a study investigating the current pathways to employment and entrepreneurship for refugees in Kenya, and the actual and potential role of the private sector in creating economic opportunities in Kenya’s refugee-hosting areas. | |
| 2021 | Borderland infrastructure and livelihoods: a review of implications for the development of formal border crossings in Mandera County, Kenya | This paper examines the impacts of the development of formal border crossings on the economy of borderlands, especially in remote, rural areas of Africa, where local people’s livelihoods often depend on informal cross-border trade and exchange. | |
| 2021 | REF 2020 feedback and impact survey | Results and analysis of stakeholder survey to evaluate REF's impact and engagement. | |
| 2020 | Circular refugee returns between Kenya and Somalia | A review of circular return dynamics between Kenya and Somalia. | |
| 2020 | Moving in contexts of environmental change: a rural-urban livelihoods perspective from Laikipia, Kenya | This paper explores the physical movements, and the translocal connections that accompany them, through the perspective of rural-urban livelihoods in Laikipia County, Kenya. | |
| 2020 | Information and communication technologies and mobility in the Horn of Africa: a review of the literature | This review examines how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) affect intentions and behaviours relating to mobility within the Horn of Africa. | |
| 2020 | Resilience in Action Local practices and development/humanitarian policies | This review investigates the adoption of ideas of resilience in the drylands of Turkana by the development and humanitarian sector. | |
| 2020 | Localisation and participation within the rollout of the Comprehensive refugee Response Framework in Kenya | This rapid review analyses the extent of localisation and participation in the rollout of the CRRF process in Kenya. | |
| 2020 | COVID-19 and mobility, conflict and development in the Horn of Africa | This briefing paper brings together emerging information and analyses on COVID‐19 in the HoA, with a particular focus on how these relate to mobility, conflict and development. | |
| 2020 | Migration and migration management on the Ethiopia–Sudan border | This research project examines the interests of a range of stakeholders in different forms of migration in Metema, Ethiopia, in particular those who are indirectly involved in designing migration responses. | |
| 2020 | Comprehensive Refugee Responses in the Horn of Africa: Regional Leadership on Education, Livelihoods and Durable Solutions | This report analyses the ways in which the Nairobi Process and CRRF are being implemented in Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. | |
| 2020 | Migration and conflict in the Horn of Africa: a review of recent literature | An overview of new literature related to migration in the Horn of Africa published between 2017 and 2019. | |
| 2019 | The impact of Youth Training and Employment on Migration Dynamics in the Horn of Africa | Exploring the relationship between technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Ethiopia and Uganda and changing patterns of migration. | |
| 2019 | Disrupting the Finances of Criminal Networks Responsible for Human Smuggling and Trafficking | What approaches undermine the capacities of criminal to undertake smuggling and trafficking networks? | |
| 2018 | Darfuri migration from Sudan to Europe | Documenting the experiences of young Darfuris fleeing Sudan for Europe to understanding the drivers migration. | |
| 2018 | Return and (Re)Integration after Displacement; Belonging, Labelling and Livelihoods in Three Somali Cities | Examining the factors that shape displacement, return and (re)integration in Somalia. | |
| 2018 | The Lure of the City; Synthesis report on rural to urban migration in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda | Examining rural to urban migration in Dire Dawa, Eldoret and Gulu. | |
| 2018 | Eldoret, a City on the Move; Drivers, Dynamics and Challenges of Rural to Urban Mobility | Exploring the drivers and dynamics related to rural to urban migration in Eldoret. | |
| 2018 | Mobility and Crisis in Gulu; Drivers, Dynamics and Challenges of Rural to Urban Mobility | Exploring the drivers and dynamics related to rural to urban migration in Gulu. | |
| 2018 | Expectations and Belonging in Dire Dawa; Drivers, Dynamics and Challenges of Rural to Urban Mobility | Exploring the drivers and dynamics related to rural to urban migration in Dire Dawa. | |
| 2018 | A Rapid Review of the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa Research and Evidence Facility | A review of the REF’s outputs and impact | |
| 2017 | Migration Between the Horn of Africa and Yemen | Are smuggling and trafficking networks driving the growth in migration from the Horn of Africa to Yemen? | |
| 2017 | Migration and Conflict in the Horn of Africa; A Desk Review and Proposal for Research | The Desk Review examines the state of research on migration, displacement and conflict in the Horn of Africa. | |
| 2016 | Cross Border Analysis Report Summary | This is the summary of all four cross border analysis reports exploring Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. | |
| 2016 | Cross Border Analysis Report Cluster 1: Southwest Ethiopia and Northwest Kenya | This report examines the border dynamics concerning Southwest Ethiopia and Northwest Kenya. | |
| 2016 | Cross Border Analysis Report Cluster 2: Kenya Somalia Ethiopia | This report analyses the cross border dynamics of Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia. | |
| 2016 | Cross Border Analysis Report Cluster 3: West Ethiopia and East Sudan | This report which provides a mapping and analysis of Western Ethiopia and Eastern Sudan. |
Research summaries and briefings
| Date | Title | Summary | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Inclusion of youth in conflict analysis for improved programming and policy responses to displacement in South Sudan | This policy brief discusses the fundamental principles of conflict analysis and how they can translate into practice. It highlights the need for a participatory, youth-sensitive conflict analysis. It also underlines primary areas of intervention for humanitarian and development actors to acknowledge when designing and implementing programmes targeted at South Sudanese refugees, IDPs, returnees and host communities. | |
| 2023 | Gendered experiences of return and displacement in South Sudan: developing gender-sensitive policies and programming | This policy brief discusses the rupture that displacement and return constitute in the lives of women and argues for a more gender-sensitive approach to policy design and programming around mobility in South Sudan | |
| 2023 | Leveraging cross-border cooperation: a durable solutions approach to the South Sudan displacement crisis | This policy brief discusses long-standing traditions of cross-border mobility in the region and existing efforts towards regional cross-border cooperation at the policy and programming level. We propose a way forward through harmonisation of policies among national governments, reorientation of border policy to facilitate safe movement rather than securitisation, and more flexible funding mechanisms with longer time horizons. | |
| 2022 | Disability Inclusion of Refugees in Ethiopia and Recommendations for Future Practice | This policy brief presents the findings and recommendations from a study, on disability inclusion for refugees in Ethiopia. The study examines the experiences, protection needs, barriers to, and opportunities for providing protection for refugees living with disabilities in Ethiopia, and ways to institutionalise better practices of inclusion. | |
| 2021 | Mapping the refugee journey towards employment and entrepreneurship: obstacles and opportunities for private sector engagement in refugee hosting areas | This research brief presents a summary of a research study exploring the current pathways to employment and entrepreneurship for refugees in Kenya, and the actual and potential role of the private sector in creating economic opportunities in Kenya’s refugee hosting areas. | |
| 2021 | Youth vocational education/training and migration in the Horn of Africa | This research brief presents the results of a study investigating the link between involvement in TVET programmes and potential for migration among youth in Uganda and Ethiopia. | |
| 2021 | Information & communication technologies, mobility and migration in the Horn of Africa | This research brief presents the key findings and recommendations of an extensive literature review on how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) affect intentions and behaviours related to mobility within the Horn of Africa (HoA). | |
| 2019 | Comprehensive Refugee Responses in the Horn of Africa: Regional Leadership on Education, Livelihoods and Durable Solutions: summary of findings | A study which considered the implementation of the CRRF and IGAD initiatives in four countries: Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda | |
| 2019 | Changing Places: Migration and Displacement in the Horn of Africa | A summary of discussions from REF's 2019 forum in Nairobi | |
| 2018 | 2018 Update of Research Activities & Publications | Research activities, initiated research and preliminary findings. | |
| 2018 | Darfuri migration from Sudan to Europe: from Displacement to Despair | This report summary looks at the experiences of young Darfuris fleeing Sudan for Europe. | |
| 2018 | Assessing the impact of migration management systems on livelihoods and migration: Evidence from Puntland | Exploring the actual and potential impact of migration management initiatives on sustainable development. | |
| 2017 | 2017 Update of Research Activities and Publications | Research activities, initiated research and preliminary findings. | |
| 2017 | Perilous Journeys, Migration between the Horn of Africa and Yemen | Key policy implications on movement between the Horn of Africa and Yemen. | |
| 2017 | Migration Between the Horn of Africa and Yemen | Executive summary: understanding what is driving the growth in migration from the Horn of Africa to Yemen. | |
| 2017 | Taking Stock: Recent & Upcoming Research | Research activities, initiated research and preliminary findings. | |
| 2017 | Migration Between the Horn of Africa and Yemen | A summary of preliminary findings on our research exploring migration between the Horn of Africa and Yemen. | |
| 2017 | Migration and Conflict in the Horn of Africa: Desk Review Bibliography | Bibliography examining the state of research on migration, displacement and conflict in the Horn of Africa |
| Date | Title | Author | Summary | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Rural–urban migration, urban informality and the challenges of promoting inclusive development in Ethiopia | Getahun Fenta Kebede | This paper explores the causes and types of informality in Ethiopia and identify barriers that hinder young people from formalising informal businesses and launching and running new businesses. | Paper |
| 2021 | COVID-19 and forced immobility in the Horn of Africa | Oliver Bakewell | This paper will explore the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on mobility compared to the impact of other crises. | Paper |
| 2020 | A state-incorporated business: the migration economy along the Ethiopia–Sudan border town of Metema | Kiya Gezahegne | This paper explores how some members of the state, and brokers, are involved in the business of migrant mobility, including in human smuggling and trafficking. | Paper Blog |
| 2020 | Baidoa Municipality initiatives on population displacement and urbanisation: key lessons learned and the way forward | Abdullahi Ali Watiin | This paper focuses on the security of Baidoa City, on durable solutions for the challenges facing displaced people, on urbanisation and on private sector engagement with the help of development and humanitarian partners operating in Baidoa, South West State of Somalia. | Paper Blog |
| 2020 | Migration barriers and migration momentum: Ethiopian irregular migrants in the Ethiopia-South Africa migration corridor | Yordanos Estifanos and Tanya Zack | The key factors driving a persistent aspiration among Ethiopians to migrate to South Africa, despite intensifying restrictions and hostility. | Paper Blog |
| 2018 | En route to Exile: Organizing Refugee journeys from the Horn of Africa towards Europe | Tekalign Ayalew | Explores the emergence and role of irregular migration infrastructures that support and sustain east African migratory mobility towards Europe. | Paper |
| 2018 | Close and Yet Far; Lived Experiences of Ethiopian Maids in Djibouti | Meron Zeleke | The experiences of Ethiopian female migrants working as maids in Djibouti. | Paper |
| 2017 | Somali Networks in Uganda | Gianluca Iazzolino and Mohamed Hersi | The transformation of Somali entrepreneurship in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. | Paper |
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