Agency and livelihood-making in protracted displacement: key insights and recommendations for development cooperation; Synthesis report of the research project "Protected rather than protraced"

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 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.