Impact - Refugee Economies
Credit: N. Omata
Impact of Our Work in Uganda
Our initial research brought the ‘Ugandan model’ significant international attention, and led to notable impact on policy and practice.
The research was highlighted in well over 100 media interviews, reports, and articles, helping to provide a far stronger evidence-base for public debate on the issue. Although our data was collected in Uganda, the case study served to show what is possible if we do give refugees basic economic freedoms.
The research has been directly referenced in the Guardian, the Economist, the Independent, on the BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera, among others. Television interviews on BBC World News, BBC News Channel, CNN Amanpour, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera Arabic, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Central China Television, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Radio coverage included BBC Radio 4 and an NPR documentary made based on the research in Uganda and played across 900 US-based radio stations. Print media coverage included the Guardian, the Economist, the Independent, Fast Company Magazine, and IRIN news.
Research presentations made at major public events, including at the World Bank, UNHCR’s annual NGO consultations, the US State Department, DFID, the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the Danish Red Cross’ annual meeting, and at joint academic-policy meetings at Harvard University and Stanford University.
“The research conducted by Oxford the refugees’ economic activities has made a significant contribution to the development of the OPM and joint self-reliance programme in Uganda…The analysis and data provided by Oxford have become a significant underpinning of our policy making in the area of refugees’ self-reliance and have also enabled us to conduct evidence-based policy-making.”
PERMANENT SECRETARY, THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE GOVERNMENT OF UGANDA
“Oxford’s work has been path-breaking; and it has fundamentally altered the debate on the impact of refugees in countries of asylum, demonstrating the capacity of refugees for self-reliance and their ability to contribute to hosting societies.”
FORMER DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, UNHCR
“We had the chance to attend and participate and present in an international conference that brought together people from different parts of the world. This has helped me a lot, and especially the fact that I got to present, to increase even my confidence and also to realise that I was still valuable even if I was a refugee. So that was something valuable for me.”
CONGOLESE REFUGEE RESEARCHER
The Refugee Economies Programme was awarded a University of Oxford Vice Chancellor’s Award for Public Engagement with Research in recognition of its approach to working directly with refugees.
Our core team of refugee researchers included 17 refugees: Wardo Omar Abdullahi, Hussein Ahmed Abukar, David Bachy, William Bakunzi, Seinya Bekele, Caesar Bishovu, Osman Faiz, Sada Faiz, Kiflu Hussain, Angelique Kabami, Cosmos Lugala, Abdullahi Mahil, Bernadette Muhongaiyre, Robert Hakiza Ngirwa, Gemus Ngirabakunzi, Ntakamaze Nziyonvira, and Abdirahman Sheik Mahi Yusuf.
In addition, we provided training as enumerators to a further 25 refugees: Emmanuel Baraka, Emmanuel Mbabzi, Clovis Bosco, Jean Claude, Mohamed Hasan, Patricia Kalambayi, Rosemary Kamariza, Alexis Kubana, Hellen Mabonga, Emmanuel Mfitundinda, Abdalla Muhamed, Aisha Muhamood Abdi, Eugenie Mukandayisenga, Damien Ndemezo, Christopher Okidi, Abdifatah Hassan Osman, Bosco Pagama, Christian Salumu, Richard Tombe, Richard Veve, Jimmy Wamimbi, Joseph Yuggu, and our survey site supervisors, Joan Aliobe and Henry Mugisha.
