Evidence on the Impact of Work Permits on Refugees and Host Communities in Ethiopia

Evidence on the Impact of Work Permits on Refugees and Host Communities in Ethiopia

Funded by IPA's Displaced Livelihoods Initiative and in collaboration with the Ethiopian government and the World Bank, researchers are conducting a large-scale randomized evaluation that will provide evidence of the impact of refugee work permits on both recipients and host communities.

Most of the world’s refugees face work restrictions. Given the increasingly protracted nature of displacement, identifying effective solutions for refugee economic integration will be essential to ensuring the long-term well-being of both refugee and host communities. 

In collaboration with the Ethiopian government and the World Bank, researchers will conduct a large-scale randomized evaluation that will provide evidence of the impact of refugee work permits on both recipients and host communities. This study will assess how the right to work directly impacts the lives of refugees, and estimate indirect impacts on the host community.