Improving access to labor markets for refugees: Evidence from Uganda

Abstract

Recent conflicts and sectarian violence have produced the highest number of refugees ever recorded in the world. Currently, almost 20 million of refugees worldwide have been forced to flee their homes (UNHCR, 2019). The majority of these people are hosted by developing countries. For these reasons, the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other partners are moving towards a new approach in refugee management: from the prevalent emergency perspective to a development one. However, refugees, especially in developing countries, may find it particularly hard to access local job markets, for various reasons.