Uganda gives refugees the right to work and freedom of movement through its self-reliance model. The model has been widely praised as one of the most progressive refugee policies in the world. Our research explores what difference the self-reliance model makes in practice. Which aspects work, under what conditions, and for whom? In order to answer these questions, we compare outcomes for refugees and host community members in Uganda and Kenya, neighbouring countries with contrasting refugee policy frameworks. We identify four major advantages to Uganda’s regulatory framework: greater mobility, lower transaction costs for economic activity, higher incomes, and more sustainable sources of employment. Nevertheless, there are some limitations to Uganda’s assistance model, notably in relation to the viability of its land allocation model in rural settlements, the inadequacy of access to education in the settlements, and the ineffectiveness of urban assistance. Overall, our research offers a strong endorsement of the value of allowing refugees the right to work and freedom of movement, but calls for a more nuanced view of the strengths and weaknesses of refugee assistance in Uganda.
Publishing Organizations: Na'amal, Jobtech Alliance
Author(s): Dr Shuting Xia, Lorraine Charles
Publishing Organizations: ODI Global
Author(s): Caitlin Sturridge, Amanda Gray Meral, Kerrie Holloway, Simon Levine
Publishing Organizations: The Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (JEMS)
Author(s): R.A. Rizka Fiani Prabaningtyas, Tri Nuke Pudjiastuti, Antje Missbach, Faudzan Farhana, Athiqah Nur Alami
Publishing Organizations: SSM - Mental Health
Author(s): Dr. Ilana Seff, Arturo Harker Roa, Raymond Atwebembere, Jennie Cottle, Ned Meerdink, Adriana Monar, Diany Castellar, Dr. Lindsay Stark
Publishing Organizations: Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative
Author(s): Dr. Ilana Seff, Dr. Lindsay Stark, Kari Diener, Kellie Leeson, Ned Meerdink, Alli Gillespie
Publishing Organizations: The World Bank
Author(s): Jan von der Goltz, Kirsten Schuettler, Julie Bousquet, Tewodros Aragie Kebede
Publishing Organizations: Norwegian Refugee Council
Publishing Organizations: Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative
Author(s): Climate Risks and Self-Reliance Technical Working Group (TWG)
Publishing Organizations: Jobtech Alliance, Na'amal, Hilton Foundation
Publishing Organizations: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
Author(s): Boel McAteer and Kellie Leeson