The Challenges of Social and Urban Livelihood for Refugee Women: A Case Study of Social Integration Process of Urban Refugee Women from the Great Lakes Region
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Little or no research has focused upon how different factors combine to influence the
refugee integration experience of urban refugees living in Addis Ababa. This is particularly true
for refugees originating from a relatively distant land such as the GLR. Nevertheless, there is little
research into the lives of such refugees. Hence, my research is exploratory looking into the social
integration process and livelihood of GLR urban refugee women. Considering the smaller number
of GLR urban refugees, purposive sampling was used. One FGD with a group of nine refugees
and two key informant interviews as well as qualitative open-ended questionnaires were used to
do the research distributed to eight refugees. Moreover, officers working in the ARRA, UNHCRBO,
DICAC and JRS were consulted /interviewed and responded to questions emailed to them.
Data organization followed the data collection. The analysis was made in light of the research
questions and objectives as well as the hypothesis produced at the start of the research work.
Interviews with key informants and the recorded FGD were transcribed. I sorted out the issues
which I thought were recurrently mentioned in the FGD, the open-ended questionnaire replies as
well as the key informant interviews. The analysis continued with some sort of conclusion for
each sub-topic discussed. The findings of this study have shown that GLR refugees living in
Addis Ababa have to face challenges in their attempt to become socially integrated. Refugees of
the GLR face different challenges and barriers and in many cases are less advantageous compared
to their counterparts living in camps. Difficulties in learning Amharic have often made it difficult
for GLR refugees to communicate with the host community which leads to less socialization.
When coupled with language and cultural differences, and the lack of work permit, GLR refugee
women are left in a vulnerable situation. In such situation, securing self reliance is nearly
impossible. For many they have to rely on humanitarian assistance
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Social Work