Refugee Livelihoods in Urban Areas: Identifying Program Opportunities

Despite a growing body of research about the livelihood problems of refugees in urban areas in countries of first asylum, there is little evidence about which humanitarian programs work, what livelihoods initiatives refugees undertake themselves, and where opportunities for programming interventions lie. This study addresses this knowledge gap by analyzing the urban livelihoods context, and identifying programming opportunities and examples of promising program initiatives. The study’s key objective was to support livelihoods programming for refugees by generating new ideas from related fields of inquiry, such as low-income urban development and youth employment, and adapting these ideas to make them relevant for refugees. Our study began with a global desk review of livelihoods programming for refugees in urban settings together with a review of low-income urban development programs that could be relevant for refugees. We then conducted three case studies – in Cairo, Tel Aviv and Quito, Ecuador – each representing a different refugee policy and livelihoods context, and which together offer lessons for other host settings. Each case study begins with a review of existing livelihood programs in the country. This includes a mapping of commercial, humanitarian and governmental organizations that provide programming, advocacy or other resources that support the livelihoods of refugees, migrants and low-income citizens. We then interviewed asylum seekers and key informants to deepen our understanding of the livelihoods context in each country. Both the desk review and the case studies can be found at ?c.tufts.edu Our global review and case studies generated many ideas, and in this document we summarize the main program and advocacy approaches that show promise for supporting the livelihoods of urban refugees. We begin with a discussion of advocacy, then focus on programming.