In search of a durable solution : examining the factors influencing postconflict refugee returns / Louay Constant, Shelly Culbertson, Jonathan S. Blake, Mary Kate Adgie, Hardika Dayalani.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Constant, Louay, author.

Culbertson, Shelly, author.

Blake, Jonathan S., author.

Adgie, Mary Kate, author.

Dayalani, Hardika, author.

Contributor:

Rand Corporation, publisher.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Refugees--Government policy.

Refugees.

Refugees--International cooperation.

Physical Description:

xxi, 106 pages : illustrations ; 28 cm

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, California : Rand Corporation, [2021]

Summary:

There are 30 million refugees around the world. Humanitarian agencies aim for one of three durable solutions for them: voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement, with repatriation being the preferred solution. However, the authors find that only one-third of refugees return home after ten years. Returns have not kept pace with new displacement. The status quo is a growing global population of displaced people living in limbo without full citizenship rights, and with their host countries experiencing ever-greater political and economic strains of hosting them. The need to find new solutions to facilitate safe refugee return has become more urgent. The authors aim to address this need by examining barriers to, and facilitators of, the safe and sustained return of refugees. The authors examined evidence from the literature about refugee returns; conducted interviews with global experts; examined cross-national data trends from 53 cases; and conducted case studies of refugee returns in the Western Balkan countries of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, as well as the Kurdistan Region-Iraq, involving focus groups with returned refugees. The authors found that, despite the intent of global humanitarian and development communities, most refugees are unable to return or find another durable solution even after decades of displacement. The authors offer recommendations to governments, donors, and international organizations, recommending that the three durable solutions be pursued in combination with, and accompanied by, efforts to develop a greater menu of interim solutions with robust international support to promote the well-being of refugees and their host communities.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: ch. One Introduction

Aim of the Study

Study Methods and Approach

Organization of This Report

ch. Two Overview of Global Concepts and Trends in Refugee Returns

Few Refugees Return or Find Other Durable Solutions

Global Trends in Postconflict Refugee Returns

Reasons for Low Return Numbers

Global Governance of Refugee Returns

Conflicting Values, Return Concepts, or Goals Regarding Refugee Return

Summary

ch. Three A Framework for Evaluating Returns

Conceptual Framework

ch. Four A Case Study of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Overview

Displacement and Return Context

Conditions in the Home and Host Countries

Role of National and International Organizations

Voices of Returnees

ch. Five A Case Study of Kosovo

Return Conditions

ch. Six A Case Study of the Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Return Considerations in the Home and Host Locations

Roles of National and International Organizations

Voices of Returnees and the Displaced in the Kurdistan Region-Iraq

ch. Seven Themes from Across the Case Studies

Characteristics of the Refugees

Conditions in the Home Country

Conditions in the Host Country

Actions of Governments and Multilateral Organizations

ch. Eight Conclusions and Recommendations

Expend Greater Effort on Conflict Resolution and Stabilization to Address the Root Causes of Conflict-Based Displacement, or Create the Conditions That Allow Quick Return

Focus on Facilitating Return During the First Five Years After a Conflict

Ensure Return Efforts Include Local, National, and Regional Stakeholders to Enable Better Coordination of International Diplomatic, Security, Humanitarian, and Development Initiatives

Build the Capacity of Home Country Governments at the National and Local Levels to Manage Returns and Security

Invest in Monitoring and Accountability Mechanisms

Take Demographic Shifts, Natural Migration Patterns, and Personal Preferences into Account When Developing Refugee Return Policies and Programs

Design Return Aid and Development Aid to Address Structural Economic Problems and Public Service Inefficiencies

Update Standards and Metrics to Measure Refugee Return Efforts Globally

Target Mixed and Comprehensive Durable and Interim Solutions in a Timely Manner

Instead of Repatriation

as the Preferred Solution for Refugees

APPENDIXES

A. Key Informant and Stakeholder Interviews

B. In-Depth Interviews and Focus Groups

C. Measuring Postconflict Refugee Return (Detailed).

Notes:

"Prepared for U.S. Department of State."

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781977407399

1977407390

OCLC:

1266240349