The Joint Data Center’s Third Research Conference on Forced Displacement brought together key stakeholders to connect innovative academic research with policy and practice to improve outcomes for forcibly displaced populations and the communities that host them. Below, we unpack this research and identify key lessons for policymakers and practitioners.
 

1. In low- and middle-income countries, many host communities view refugees as adding value to their region. 

An important theme throughout the conference focused on the attitudes of host communities toward the displaced populations. Emerging evidence from these studies suggests, counterintuitively, that host communities in low- and middle-income countries often have positive attitudes towards refugees and support more inclusive policies like the right to work and access to social services. The source of this goodwill may stem from a combination of feelings of kinship with the displaced population, a genuine concern for their humanitarian needs, and increased investment from the international community in the region, benefiting both host and displaced populations (Mae MacDonald, Guy Grossman). Moreover, an evaluation of IRC’s ReBuild program, which provided cash transfers to both host and displaced populations in Uganda, found that these positive attitudinal outcomes only occurred when cash was labeled as being a result of hosting displaced populations (Thomas Ginn). Notably, in Uganda, refugee policy liberalization also increased the approval rates of government officials (Grossman).
 

2. Investment in improving hosts’ economic outcomes may contribute to social cohesion and community support for progressive refugee-hosting policies.

The research presented at the conference further emphasized the importance of reducing the initial community-level economic burden of hosting displaced populations. Evidence suggests that communities can benefit from the international investment that comes with hosting refugees—improving economic outcomes for the entire region (Mae MacDonald, Guy Grossman)—and hosts may change their attitudes when they know this (Thomas Ginn). Policymakers and practitioners could seize opportunities to communicate that refugee hosting can improve economic conditions, rather than increase competition over resources. When communities feel that they are receiving aid or services that they would not otherwise have access to as a result of hosting displaced communities, evidence suggests that attitudes towards refugees and inclusive policies can improve. That said, Tara Mitchell’s study in Niger found that though providing cash transfers combined with entrepreneurship training to refugee and host populations improved economic outcomes and trust in each other, it also increased reporting of disputes between these communities. Further research is needed to determine whether these outcomes were a result of improved refugee trust in reporting systems or greater competition for resources needed for production, as both communities used grants to start businesses. Additional research is also needed to inform if this could be mitigated by complementary programming such as dispute resolution programming or diversification of entrepreneurship interventions.  
 

3. Mitigating the economic consequences of displacement can prevent community- and individual-level violence.  

Chris Blair’s research tracked the impact of Trump administration sanctions on Iraq, leading many Afghan refugees to return to Afghanistan following the loss of livelihoods. Blair’s work found that repatriated communities became highly vulnerable to Taliban recruitment, and their communities fell victim to subsequent violent attacks from insurgent groups. He compared this to displaced households in Pakistan who were provided with cash transfers if they returned to Afghanistan. Unlike those who were forced to return due to economic loss, those who were able to return with cash support were much less vulnerable to Taliban recruitment, reducing community violence. Moreover, Merve Betül Gökce and Murat Güray Kidar’s work with Syrian communities in Jordan found a direct relationship between economic loss caused by displacement and rates of intimate partner violence (IPV). In households that suffered the greatest economic loss, women experienced the highest rates of IPV. Importantly, prior to being displaced, these households did not have significantly higher rates of IPV than their neighbors. This research speaks to the relationship between livelihoods, protection, and conflict.
 

4. Mental health services are essential but must be targeted and delivered effectively. 

Research presented at the conference emphasized the importance of appropriate targeting and high-quality delivery of mental health support for displaced populations, as well as the impacts that such programs can have beyond psychosocial well-being. Among conflict-affected communities in Colombia, mental health services provided to caregivers were shown to significantly improve development outcomes for children living in their households and reduce the likelihood that their children will also experience mental illness. Importantly, these services were delivered by members of their community (Andres Moya). Moreover, among Syrian refugees in Jordan, despite being aware of the benefits of psychosocial support services, stigma prevented individuals from utilizing them. However, Emma Smith’s research found that encouraging participants to inform their networks that they were being paid to send out information on mental health services provided them with ‘social cover’ that increased sharing of information. This in turn increased conversations around mental health, as well as the provision of informal support among friends. Though the project did not lead to a greater uptake of formal mental health services, Smith’s work did find that refugees were able to identify those most in need of psychosocial support and that uptake was higher among those who received information from someone within their network.
 

What’s next?

Overall, the Joint Data Center’s Third Research Conference on Forced Displacement underscored that informed policymaking and inclusive strategies are vital for creating resilient, supportive environments for all affected by displacement. That said, speakers also highlighted the evidence gaps that remain. In particular, there is limited evidence responding to the unique integration and livelihoods challenges faced by internally displaced persons, and limited comparable cost-effectiveness data to facilitate decision-making. Through our Displaced Livelihoods Initiative, we will have more evidence to share on these topics in the coming months and years and look forward to working with policymakers and practitioners to strategically integrate these findings into decision-making as they become available.

The Displaced Livelihoods Initiative, jointly managed by Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), with generous support from the IKEA Foundation, funds innovative research to inform the design of policies and programs that empower refugees, internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, and others in refugee-like situations to achieve self-reliance. DLI supports collaborations between researchers and leaders in government, NGOs, and the private sector, with a particular view to the participation of persons with lived experience of displacement to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by displaced populations and the communities that host them.