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Agency and livelihood-making in protracted displacement: key insights and recommendations for development cooperation; Synthesis report of the research project "Protected rather than protraced"
[working paper]
Corporate Editor
Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC)
Abstract This project’s approach of analysing protracted displacement through the perspectives and
experiences of the displaced persons themselves has proven key to understanding the actual
dynamics, complexities and possible solutions to it. It uncovered and documented a wealth of
different coping strate... view more
This project’s approach of analysing protracted displacement through the perspectives and
experiences of the displaced persons themselves has proven key to understanding the actual
dynamics, complexities and possible solutions to it. It uncovered and documented a wealth of
different coping strategies across diverse contexts, thus providing new insights into what living
in protracted displacement means for people affected by it and into which kind of support they
require. The project points out new research avenues on protracted displacement, such as the
impact of social relations and interactions on displaced peoples’ livelihood options—both locally
and trans-locally—or the various types and patterns of mobility representing livelihood strategies of the displaced.
People in protracted displacement face multiple exclusions from access to livelihood-sustaining
resources and services. Such exclusions are not only layered on top of each other in terms of
generalised marginalisation but can also condition each other, in that a lack of access to certain
realms of societal life may block access to others. Moreover, this research has found that the living
conditions of people in protracted displacement often do not improve after the initial emergency
phase is over; lack of access to vital resources and services may be a constant feature of protracted
displacement or even become worse over time. Peoples’ de facto (re)integration strategies, i.e.
livelihood-making in contexts of displacement or return, take place in highly fragmented and
disintegrated societies and are confronted with deliberately disintegrating forces, such as legal
exclusion, discrimination and violence.
National and international legal regulations and government action provide a crucial framework condition for the chances of displaced persons to (re)integrate and can be supportive or
disruptive. However, their actual effects on the displaced persons and local level are mediated by
alternative social norms in the respective context and can be stronger or weaker depending on a
person’s positionality in society.
Due to the multiple exclusions and insecurities of protracted displacement, the diversification
and re-combinations of livelihood sources through spatial mobility is one of few chances for
the displaced to sustain themselves and their families and is thus essential to their livelihoods.
Mobility is, however, not automatically a resource in itself; it can simply be the permanent
search for safety and livelihood opportunities. Social relations and interactions at the place of
residence are perhaps the most important resource for displaced persons’ livelihoods. Pre-existing
ties between communities often help to facilitate local integration of displaced persons. However,
a marginal status of local residents, poverty and scarcity of resources in receiving areas and
external influences can have a negative impact on community relations, lead to tensions and
reduce livelihood options for the displaced.... view less
Keywords
migration; flight; refugee; displacement; displaced person; livelihood; living conditions; social integration; development aid policy; social relations
Classification
International Relations, International Politics, Foreign Affairs, Development Policy
Migration, Sociology of Migration
Free Keywords
humanitäre Lage; entwicklungspolitische Zusammenarbeit; humanitäre Auslandshilfe; Rechtsstellung von Gruppen; Human Security
Document language
English
Publication Year
2019
City
Bonn
Page/Pages
53 p.
Series
BICC Working Paper, 10/2019
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0