In-depth: Innovation & Technology

In-depth

Innovation & Technology

Exploring the role of innovation and technology in response to forced displacement.

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

What Ethiopia Can Learn From the Jordan Compact

Jennifer Gordon Professor of Law, Fordham University in New York

The Ethiopia Jobs Compact’s commitment to providing formal economic opportunities ignores the likelihood that many refugees will be able to find only informal work, writes law professor Jennifer Gordon. Implementation will be more effective if it considers this reality.over 1 year ago

Crises & Conflicts
Economy
Education
Environment
Innovation & Technology
Laws & Policy
Refugee Voices
Solutions
Articles
General

2018: A Year of Reporting Deeply on Refugees and Migration

As we near the end of another eventful year for refugees and migration policy, our editors select 2018’s best stories and commentary on Refugees Deeply.over 1 year ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Laws & Policy
Refugee Voices
Community
Op-Eds

How Integration Is Actually Working in Germany

Swati Mehta

Three years after record numbers of asylum seekers came to Germany, jobs remain the biggest challenge for post-2015 arrivals. Researcher Swati Mehta offers four ways to make financial integration work.almost 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

What if an Algorithm Decided Whether You Could Stay in Canada or Not?

Samer Muscati

Petra Molnar

Canada is rapidly expanding the use of AI in its immigration service. Rights advocates Petra Molnar and Samer Muscati pick apart experiments that will be copied around the world.almost 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Integration
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Q&A

How Cities Are Demanding a Greater Voice on Migration

Cities are developing their own solutions to help fast-growing migrant and refugee populations in urban areas. Cities expert Robert Muggah describes the swell of initiatives by urban leaders and what it will take to overcome the barriers ahead.almost 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Innovation & Technology
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Malta’s History of Failed Migration Deterrence

Cetta Mainwaring Writer, Researcher, and Activist, University of Glasgow

Malta’s need to stand up to Italy is preventing it from leading on better E.U. migration policy. Cetta Mainwaring argues for a radical departure from past and present failures.almost 2 years ago

Education
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Refugee Voices
Solutions
Articles
General

School Started by Refugees Becomes One of Uganda’s Best

An education project started by Congolese refugees in Uganda has been hailed a success. This expanding school is now sending students to universities all over the world.almost 2 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Lending to Refugees: How the Wisdom of the Crowd Proves Banks Wrong

Lev Plaves Senior Portfolio Manager, Middle East at Kiva.org

Refugees can boost local economies, but they often lack access to finance as banks deem them risky borrowers. Lev Plaves of crowdfunding platform Kiva explains how their research on the creditworthiness of refugees challenges those economic assumptions.about 2 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Q&A

How Borders Are Constructed in West Africa

The E.U. has led an expensive and often contradictory effort to modernize African borders. Author Philippe Frowd looks at the gap between policy and outcomes.about 2 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Solutions
Articles
General

How Grocers in Denmark Became the Key to Refugee Integration

Rural stores in Denmark contain vital lessons for making asylum centers work. Researchers Zachary Whyte, Birgitte Romme Larsen and Mona Schaldemose uncover a quiet success story.about 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Why Big Data Cannot Fix Migration Statistics

Funda Ustek-Spilda Research Officer, London School of Economics, Department of Media and Communications

Stephan Scheel Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Twente

Big promises that “big data” will provide more accurate, real-time international migration statistics are overblown, say researchers Stephan Scheel and Funda Ustek-Spilda. They explain the political problems with statistics that cannot be solved by a technological fix.about 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Refugee Voices
Solutions
Community
Q&A

How Yemeni Refugees Photographed Their World

As part of our series ‘Picturing Refugees,’ anthropologist Nathalie Peutz and photographer Nadia Benchallal discuss self-representation and the social significance of imagery after working with nine Yemeni refugees to document their lives in Djibouti over a year.about 2 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Community
Op-Eds

Funders Must Recognize Refugees Have Assets, Not Just Needs

Negar Tayyar Philanthropic Adviser, Manages the Global Whole Being Fund

Christine Mendonca CEO and Cofounder, Humans on the Move

Most grantmakers approach refugees and their local communities as a problem to be solved. Philanthropy experts Christine Mendonça and Negar Tayyar call for a shift to an asset-based approach, where refugees’ experiences and skills are part of the solution.about 2 years ago

Health
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Community
Op-Eds

Why It’s About Time For Palliative Care in Humanitarian Emergencies

Paul Spiegel Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health

In the first issue of the Humanitarian Health Digest, Paul Spiegel stresses the need to highlight the lack of palliative care in humanitarian emergencies. Both refugees and nationals with life-limiting illnesses need more dignified, cost-effective care, he argues.about 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

How to Start a Technology Revolution for Refugees in East Africa

Benjamin Hounsell Director of Strategy & Head of Implementation Research - ‎Samuel Hall

Technology is already revolutionizing education delivery and livelihoods for low-income communities in East Africa. Samuel Hall’s Benjamin Hounsell argues that, with some infrastructure investment, this presents a major opportunity for refugees in the region.about 2 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Solutions
Community
Q&A

Understanding the Algorithm Meant to Help Refugees Get Jobs Fast

Researchers from Stanford University say an algorithm for locating refugee resettlement could vastly improve their probability of finding work. We speak with them about their research and the limits and opportunities of big data for refugee resettlement.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Articles
General

A Question of Identity: Telling Stories Without Showing Faces

Since 2011, Forced Migration Review has chosen to avoid showing close-up images or faces. In the latest from our series on Picturing Refugees, editors Marion Couldrey and Jenny Peebles tell Refugees Deeply why.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Laws & Policy
Community
Deeply Talks

Deeply Talks: Facebook and the Smugglers

In our latest Deeply Talks, we spoke with IOM’s Leonard Doyle and transnational crime expert Tuesday Reitano about how companies like Facebook should respond to the use of their platforms by people smugglers.over 2 years ago

Environment
Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Articles
General

In Portugal, Environmentalists Re-Imagine Refugee Spaces

A community in Portugal is planning to build a model refugee settlement that is ecologically sustainable and more socially inclusive than most camps. Sara-Duana Meyer examines the idea and its significance for the future of refugee settlements.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

What a Startup Mind-Set Can Contribute to Humanitarian Response

Aline Sara CEO and Founding Director, Social Enterprise NaTakallam

Startups can make refugee support more effective and complement the work of traditional aid groups, say the founders of NaTakallam, a social enterprise connecting displaced Arabic speakers with language learners. They urge more collaboration between such organizations.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

The ‘Better Data’ Panacea for Refugees And Migrants: A Reality Check

Jeff Crisp Formerly Head of Policy Development and Evaluation, UNHCR

Amid a rush of enthusiasm for “data-driven humanitarianism,” Jeff Crisp of Chatham House cautions that increased data collection brings serious risks to refugees and migrants’ privacy and security – and will not necessarily lead to better policies.over 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Economy
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

For Refugee Compact to Talk Jobs, It Must Listen to Migration Compact

Jennifer Gordon Professor of Law, Fordham University in New York

Opening doors to refugees to make a good living can be positive, but the approach contains risks. Law professor Jennifer Gordon says the refugee and migration pacts must overlap for the sake of refugee workers.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

How Blockchain Could Make Refugee Programs More Transparent

Solon Ardittis Director, Eurasylum

The advent of Blockchain technology is disrupting various industries, including international aid. Solon Ardittis, managing director of Eurasylum, argues that Blockchain could bring greater transparency and accountability to refugee and migration programs.over 2 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Q&A

‘Root Causes’ Development Aid: The False Panacea for Lower Migration

Migration is a positive side effect of development, and aid should not be spent in pursuit of keeping people where they are. Development economist Michael Clemens sorts the evidence from the politics in conversation with Refugees Deeply.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Integration
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

What Grassroots Groups Can Teach Us About Smart Aid

Joanna Theodorou Founder and Director, Campfire Innovation

The refugee response in Greece has been a breeding ground for smart and small volunteer groups. Joanna Theodorou has been mapping the best of them and capturing lessons learned.over 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Economy
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

Jordan, Lebanon Compacts Should Be Improved, Not Abandoned

Nazanin Ash Vice President of Global Policy and Advocacy, International Rescue Committee

Cindy Huang Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development

The ‘jobs for refugees’ experiments in Jordan and Lebanon are the most promising approach for decades, say aid policy experts Cindy Huang and Nazanin Ash. They offer three ways to improve on disappointing early results.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Laws & Policy
Articles
Experts Weigh In
General

Expert Views: Bold Ideas for Creating a Better World for Refugees

Leaders from the private sector, human rights and refugee protection discuss big ideas for improving the global response to refugees on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

When Refugees Lead, Tech Solutions Can Go Beyond the Hype

Jessica Marks Founder and Co-President, Refugee Center Online

Lana Radosavljevic Employee Services Associate, Upwardly Global

The explosion of tech solutions for refugees in Europe has earned justified skepticism, but there are smarter ways to harness technology to improve refugee support, say Jessica Marks and Lana Radosavljevic of the Refugee Center Online, offering lessons from the U.S.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Q&A

What a Start-Up Learned Teaching Coding in Refugee Camps in Africa

We speak to Omron Blauo, co-founder of the Refugee Code Academy, about his efforts to bring coding skills to refugee camps in Africa and what he has learned from the challenges they faced along the way.over 2 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Op-Eds

Nighttime Lights Illuminate Positive Impacts of Refugee Camps

Jennifer Alix-Garcia Professor of Applied Economics, University of Oregon

Sarah Walker Development Economist and Lecturer, University of New South Wales Business School

Anne Bartlett Associate Professor, University of New South Wales

Satellite data from Kenya’s remote northeast shows increased economic activity around Kakuma camp. New research suggests a connection between refugees and growing agricultural production.over 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Why the Arab World Needs Better Data Literacy on Syrian Refugees

Daniel Garrote Sanchez Senior Researcher, Bayanat Box and the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies

Leila Kabalan Policy Consultant, Bayanat Box

While more data is available than ever before, there is little evidence-driven debate on refugees in countries like Lebanon that host the majority of Syrians. Arab digital platform Bayanat Box explains how it works to improve public comprehension of refugee data.almost 3 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Without Good Interpreters, Refugees Are Lost in an Information Void

Julie Jalloul Officer and Humanitarian Interpreter, Translators without Borders

Humanitarian interpreters are in short supply, undermining effective refugee response in countries like Greece, writes Julie Jalloul of Translators without Borders, which is launching a new platform to help connect interpreters and refugee support groups.almost 3 years ago

Education
Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Q&A

An App to Crowdfund Higher Education for Refugees

EdSeed is a new mobile app that aims to connect individual and corporate donors with displaced university students. We talked with cofounder Rama Chakaki about the app’s pilot phase and edSeed’s ambitions to expand refugee education.almost 3 years ago

Education
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Solutions
Articles
General

Why a Refugee ‘Education Passport’ Is Being Tested in Greece

A European initiative to fast-track qualification checks for refugees aims to provide a clear account of their academic record and get more refugees into higher education, reports Nikolia Apostolou for Al-Fanar Media.almost 3 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Integration
Articles
General

In Canada, Refugees Leapfrog Career Barriers With Help of Volunteers

Despite Canada’s recent welcome to Syrians and other refugees, many still face significant hurdles getting jobs that match their professional level. Alia Dharssi reports on the volunteers and businesses helping refugees navigate the Canadian labor market.almost 3 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Integration
Solutions
Articles
General

How a Former Dutch Jail Became a Hub for Refugees and Locals

Dutch residents and refugees live and work together in a converted jail in Amsterdam. The project serves as a prime example of the city’s new integration policy, which emphasizes education and quick integration into the labor market.about 3 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Op-Eds

Tech Innovation Must Serve Refugees in East Africa, Too

Benjamin Hounsell Leads the Implementation Research Pillar, Samuel Hall

Mobile technology is often a matter of life and death for refugees. Yet innovation is skewed towards displaced populations in Europe and the Middle East. Samuel Hall’s Benjamin Hounsell argues that it’s time to move beyond Western-focused tech solutions for refugees.about 3 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Q&A

Why IKEA’s Award-Winning Refugee Shelters Need A Redesign

Fire safety concerns halted the rollout of Better Shelter and the IKEA Foundation’s portable, flat-pack refugee shelters to camps. The Swedish social enterprise is working on a redesign to launch later this year. We speak to their director about the lessons learned. about 3 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Refugee Voices
Solutions
Articles
General

Graphic Novels, Games Bring Syrian Refugees’ Stories to New Audiences

Recent mobile app games, comics and graphic novels are seeking to bring refugee voices to the fore through these new mediums for information-sharing and storytelling.about 3 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Q&A

A Marketplace Solely for Women to Provide Space for Taboo Breakers

In the third of our interviews with Ideation Competition finalists, we spoke to architect students Maria Årthun and Nicole Lilly Gros about their design for a marketplace in Jordan’s Zataari camp that aims to break taboos and integrate women into the workforce.about 3 years ago

What Ethiopia Can Learn From the Jordan Compact

Jennifer Gordon Professor of Law, Fordham University in New York

2018: A Year of Reporting Deeply on Refugees and Migration

How Integration Is Actually Working in Germany

Swati Mehta

What if an Algorithm Decided Whether You Could Stay in Canada or Not?

Samer Muscati Petra Molnar

How Cities Are Demanding a Greater Voice on Migration

Malta’s History of Failed Migration Deterrence

Cetta Mainwaring Writer, Researcher, and Activist, University of Glasgow

School Started by Refugees Becomes One of Uganda’s Best

Lending to Refugees: How the Wisdom of the Crowd Proves Banks Wrong

Lev Plaves Senior Portfolio Manager, Middle East at Kiva.org

How Borders Are Constructed in West Africa

How Grocers in Denmark Became the Key to Refugee Integration

Why Big Data Cannot Fix Migration Statistics

Funda Ustek-Spilda Research Officer, London School of Economics, Department of Media and Communications Stephan Scheel Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Twente

How Yemeni Refugees Photographed Their World

Funders Must Recognize Refugees Have Assets, Not Just Needs

Negar Tayyar Philanthropic Adviser, Manages the Global Whole Being Fund Christine Mendonca CEO and Cofounder, Humans on the Move

Why It’s About Time For Palliative Care in Humanitarian Emergencies

Paul Spiegel Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health

How to Start a Technology Revolution for Refugees in East Africa

Benjamin Hounsell Director of Strategy & Head of Implementation Research - ‎Samuel Hall

Understanding the Algorithm Meant to Help Refugees Get Jobs Fast

A Question of Identity: Telling Stories Without Showing Faces

Deeply Talks: Facebook and the Smugglers

In Portugal, Environmentalists Re-Imagine Refugee Spaces

What a Startup Mind-Set Can Contribute to Humanitarian Response

Aline Sara CEO and Founding Director, Social Enterprise NaTakallam

The ‘Better Data’ Panacea for Refugees And Migrants: A Reality Check

Jeff Crisp Formerly Head of Policy Development and Evaluation, UNHCR

For Refugee Compact to Talk Jobs, It Must Listen to Migration Compact

Jennifer Gordon Professor of Law, Fordham University in New York

How Blockchain Could Make Refugee Programs More Transparent

Solon Ardittis Director, Eurasylum

‘Root Causes’ Development Aid: The False Panacea for Lower Migration

What Grassroots Groups Can Teach Us About Smart Aid

Joanna Theodorou Founder and Director, Campfire Innovation

Jordan, Lebanon Compacts Should Be Improved, Not Abandoned

Nazanin Ash Vice President of Global Policy and Advocacy, International Rescue Committee Cindy Huang Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development

Expert Views: Bold Ideas for Creating a Better World for Refugees

When Refugees Lead, Tech Solutions Can Go Beyond the Hype

Jessica Marks Founder and Co-President, Refugee Center Online Lana Radosavljevic Employee Services Associate, Upwardly Global

What a Start-Up Learned Teaching Coding in Refugee Camps in Africa

Nighttime Lights Illuminate Positive Impacts of Refugee Camps

Jennifer Alix-Garcia Professor of Applied Economics, University of Oregon Sarah Walker Development Economist and Lecturer, University of New South Wales Business School Anne Bartlett Associate Professor, University of New South Wales

Why the Arab World Needs Better Data Literacy on Syrian Refugees

Daniel Garrote Sanchez Senior Researcher, Bayanat Box and the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies Leila Kabalan Policy Consultant, Bayanat Box

Without Good Interpreters, Refugees Are Lost in an Information Void

Julie Jalloul Officer and Humanitarian Interpreter, Translators without Borders

An App to Crowdfund Higher Education for Refugees

Why a Refugee ‘Education Passport’ Is Being Tested in Greece

In Canada, Refugees Leapfrog Career Barriers With Help of Volunteers

How a Former Dutch Jail Became a Hub for Refugees and Locals

Tech Innovation Must Serve Refugees in East Africa, Too

Benjamin Hounsell Leads the Implementation Research Pillar, Samuel Hall

Why IKEA’s Award-Winning Refugee Shelters Need A Redesign

Graphic Novels, Games Bring Syrian Refugees’ Stories to New Audiences

A Marketplace Solely for Women to Provide Space for Taboo Breakers

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Samer Muscati

Petra Molnar

Funda Ustek-Spilda Research Officer, London School of Economics, Department of Media and Communications

Stephan Scheel Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Twente

Negar Tayyar Philanthropic Adviser, Manages the Global Whole Being Fund

Christine Mendonca CEO and Cofounder, Humans on the Move

Nazanin Ash Vice President of Global Policy and Advocacy, International Rescue Committee

Cindy Huang Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development

Jessica Marks Founder and Co-President, Refugee Center Online

Lana Radosavljevic Employee Services Associate, Upwardly Global

Jennifer Alix-Garcia Professor of Applied Economics, University of Oregon

Sarah Walker Development Economist and Lecturer, University of New South Wales Business School

Anne Bartlett Associate Professor, University of New South Wales

Daniel Garrote Sanchez Senior Researcher, Bayanat Box and the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies

Leila Kabalan Policy Consultant, Bayanat Box