Expert commentary, op-eds & interviews on refugee issues

Community & Insight

Insight, opinion and commentary on the global refugee crisis from a community of experts and voices from the ground.

Crises & Conflicts
Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

Assad Needs the U.N.’s Help for Refugees to Return Safely

Jesse Marks Fulbright Fellow and Scoville Peace Fellow based in Amman, Jordan

Dr. Lina Kreidie Tobis Fellow at the Ethics and Morality Center, University of California

The regime wants the legitimacy that would come from internationally backed returns. Researchers Jesse Marks and Lina Kreidie warn the U.N. to heed lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan.almost 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Peace Deal Alone Will Not Stem Flow of Eritrean Refugees

Cristiano D’Orsi Research Fellow and Lecturer, SARCIL

The detente with Ethiopia has seen Eritrea slash indefinite military conscription. Researcher Cristiano D’Orsi argues that without a breakthrough on human rights, Eritreans will still flee.almost 2 years ago

Integration
Community
Op-Eds

Unlike Salvini, Italians Still Believe in Welcoming Strangers

Tim Dixon Co-founder, More in Common

A new survey of Italian attitudes to migration and refugees finds more ideological diversity than commonly assumed. Economist and researcher Tim Dixon unpacks findings that show more nuances than the populism dominating headlines.almost 2 years ago

Economy
Integration
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

There’s No Hard Right–Soft Left Divide on Migration Policy

Katharina Natter Doctoral Researcher, University of Amsterdam

Hein de Haas Professor of Sociology, University of Amsterdam

Governments’ political orientation does not determine whether they pursue more or less restrictive migration policies. New research from Katharina Natter and Hein de Haas debunks accepted wisdom on the politics of migration.about 2 years ago

Education
Integration
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Refugee Education Is Key to Proving Dystopian Populism Wrong

Kemal Kirisci TUSIAD Senior Fellow in the Foreign-Policy Program, Brookings Institution

Nicoleta Nichifor Master of Arts in Arab Studies, Candidate at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service

Education is the key to integration, and Turkey and Europe are currently failing, write Kemal Kirisci and Nicoleta Nichifor. They suggest five ways for refugees to be better integrated into national education systems.about 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

Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Long Live Multilateralism: Why the Global Compact for Migration Matters

Marta Foresti

As the world finalizes the Global Compact for Migration, ODI’s Marta Foresti explains the political significance of reaching an international agreement on migration that many saw as an impossible gamble in an age of xenophobia and nationalism.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

Crises & Conflicts
Refugee Voices
Community
Op-Eds

Survival Strategies for Fleeing Eritrea

Katie Kuschminder Assistant Professor, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance

Most Eritreans understand the horrors that await them as they travel to seek refuge. Researcher Katie Kuschminder reveals some of the coping mechanisms developed in response.about 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Integration
Laws & Policy
Refugee Voices
Solutions
Community
Q&A

Looking Past Outrage and Violence to See the Border

Coverage of family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border has stirred outrage. We speak to border expert Gabriella Sanchez about the politics and policy, media coverage and meaning of these developments.about 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

The World Is Failing Internally Displaced People. Here’s One Solution.

Mark Yarnell Senior Advocate, Refugees International

More than one in 10 internally displaced people are in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Mark Yarnell of Refugees International describes millions of IDPs falling between the cracks of a humanitarian system in urgent need of reform.about 2 years ago

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

Why Algeria Is Emptying Itself of African Migrant Workers

Debora Del Pistoia Freelance Journalist

The campaign to detain, harass and deport thousands of African migrants is about politics, not past agreements with Niger. Debora Del Pistoia looks past the excuses at the reality of a xenophobic crackdown.about 2 years ago

Economy
Integration
Refugee Voices
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

The Jordan Compact Would Work Better If We Listened to Refugees

Laura Buffoni Senior Livelihoods Officer - UNHCR

Syrian refugees in Jordan have talked about their fears and challenges, views and culture, since their arrival. But have we been listening? Laura Buffoni of the U.N. refugee agency reflects on why the Jordan Compact is failing women and urges better-designed policies.about 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

E.U. Deportations Risk Further Destabilizing Mali

Fabian Wagner Former Co-Spokesperson, Federation of Young European Greens

Bribing West African states with E.U. aid money does nothing to compensate for their loss of remittances, writes activist Fabian Wagner. He condemns the bullying of Mali to get it to readmit migrants.about 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Solutions
Community
Q&A

How Photographing Lost Objects Revealed Another Lens on Migration

When Sicilian photographer Mario Badagliacca grew tired of ‘overexposing’ migrants arriving by sea, he searched for another way to document their experiences – through their lost belongings. We speak with Badagliacca about ‘picturing refugees.’about 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Laws & Policy
Op-Eds

Western Leaders Ignore New Peak in Global Displacement at Their Peril

Michael Dempsey National Intelligence Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Policymakers should take note of the latest U.N. global displacement figures for reasons both moral and arising from shared interests, says former U.S. acting director of national intelligence Michael Dempsey. He recommends three policy actions in response.about 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

More Than Outrage, We Need to Face Hard Lessons on Migration

Marta Foresti

Public outcry over U.S. and European policies towards migrants is not enough, nor are idealistic solutions; instead we need politically viable policy alternatives, argues Marta Foresti of the Overseas Development Institute.about 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Education
Integration
Refugee Voices
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Why Comics Are So Effective at Telling Refugees’ Stories

Poppy Ogier Research and Communications Officer, PositiveNegatives

Our series Picturing Refugees continues with Poppy Ogier from PositiveNegatives explaining the power of illustrative storytelling and why it works in depicting human stories of refuge and migration.about 2 years ago

Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

To Lead IOM, Isaacs Must Disavow Trump’s Migration Agenda

Jeremy Konyndyk Former Director, OFDA

The U.S. pick for IOM chief should clarify his views and repudiate the White House’s migration demagoguery, otherwise member-states should reject him in this week’s vote, Jeremy Konyndyk from the Center For Global Development writes for IRIN.about 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Integration
Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

Unpicking the Asylum Scandal That Shook Germany

Lena Riemer Deputy Managing Director, Graduate School Human Rights under Pressure

Alleged corruption in Germany’s asylum system has been used recklessly to advance a hardline agenda, says researcher Lena Riemer, describing an agency under huge strain, not a hotbed of corruption.about 2 years ago

Refugee Voices
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Nothing About Us Without Us: Why Refugee Inclusion Is Long Overdue

Sana Mustafa Founder of Sana Mustafa Consulting

We don’t accept all-male panels on women’s issues, so why do we still discuss refugee policy without refugees, asks entrepreneur Sana Mustafa. Beyond tokenistic inclusion of refugee stories, she argues that meaningful participation requires major institutional shifts.about 2 years ago

Refugee Voices
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

How the Media Can Better Listen to Refugees

Alia Dharssi Researcher and Journalist

Francesca Fionda Investigative Journalist and Data Reporter, The Discourse

Refugees in Canada talked to journalism company The Discourse about how to improve media coverage of refugee issues. They share the top takeaways for refugees preparing to speak to the media and for journalists seeking to provide better coverage of displacement.about 2 years ago

Economy
Integration
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Why Hiring Refugees Is Good for Business

Cyierra Roldan Policy Analyst, Fiscal Policy Institute

David Dyssegaard Kallick Deputy Director, Fiscal Policy Institute

Companies that hire and successfully integrate refugees into their workforce reap the benefits of high retention rates, better management skills and a wider potential labor pool, say the authors of new study of U.S. employers.about 2 years ago

Crises & Conflicts
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Deeply Talks

Deeply Talks: Europe’s Migration Laboratory

In the latest Deeply Talk, we discussed the findings of our Niger investigation and whether they resonate with policymakers. Elizabeth Collett, head of the Migration Policy Institute Europe explained the view from Brussels, while Bram Frouws from the Mixed Migration Center talked about how smugglers and routes are adapting.about 2 years ago

Integration
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Q&A

How Cities Can Help Solve Europe’s Crisis Over Refugees

Local authorities are often responsible for supporting refugees, but excluded from resources and policymaking. We talk to Frederic Vallier, secretary-general of the ‎Council of European Municipalities and Regions, about why cities should have a seat at the table.about 2 years ago

Integration
Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

What’s Behind Zambia’s Growing Welcome to Refugees

Nicholas Maple PhD Student, The Refugee Law Initiative

Bucking global trends, Zambia has adopted more refugee-friendly policies amid a rising number of arrivals. Based on his research in Zambia, Nicholas Maple explains the authoritarian politics behind the progressive shift and the implications for advocates.about 2 years ago

Laws & Policy
Refugee Voices
Q&A

When Refugees Lead: The Youth Leader Fighting Deportations in Sweden

As part of our series, “When Refugees Lead,” we speak with Fatemeh Khavari, the 18-year-old Afghan founder and spokesperson of Young in Sweden (Ung I Sverige), which campaigns against the deportation of unaccompanied refugee minors.about 2 years ago

Innovation & Technology
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Why Big Data Cannot Fix Migration Statistics

Stephan Scheel Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Twente

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

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

Economy
Laws & Policy
Op-Eds

How the Security Industry Reaps the Rewards of E.U. Migration Control

Mark Akkerman Researcher, Stop Wapenhandel & Transnational Institute (TNI)

In austerity-stricken Europe, increasing funds are flowing to arms and security firms positioning themselves as experts on border control. Researcher Mark Akkerman documents the companies profiting from E.U. border externalization and the industry’s lobbying power.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
Integration
Laws & Policy
Solutions
Community
Op-Eds

Mayors Can Help the Refugee Compact Turn Words Into Action

Jessica Brandt FELLOW, BROOKINGS

Will two years of work on the Global Compact on Refugees produce more than a piece of paper? Jessica Brandt of the Brookings Institution argues that the involvement of mayors and other urban leaders is critical to the Compact’s success.about 2 years ago

Economy
Innovation & Technology
Community
Op-Eds

Funders Must Recognize Refugees Have Assets, Not Just Needs

Christine Mendonca CEO and Cofounder, Humans on the Move

Negar Tayyar Philanthropic Adviser, Manages the Global Whole Being Fund

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

Economy
Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

Why Spain Is a Window into E.U. Migration Control

Gonzalo Fanjul Head of Research, porCausa Foundation

Spain’s migration control policies in North Africa dating back over a decade are now replicated across the E.U. Gonzalo Fanjul outlines PorCausa’s investigation into Spain’s migration control industry and its warning signs for the rest of Europe.about 2 years ago

Integration
Refugee Voices
Solutions
Community
Q&A

When Refugees Lead: A Conversation With Wales’ Refugee Coalition Chair

As part of our series “When Refugees Lead,” we speak with Rocio Cifuentes, chair of the Welsh Refugee Coalition and director of the Ethnic Youth Support Team, whose family fled dictatorship in Chile when she was an infant.about 2 years ago

Economy
Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

E.U.’s New Aid Fund Will Fan Tension Over Migration, Development Goals

Kate Hooper Associate Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute’s International Program

Europe’s proposal to consolidate migration spending will draw from development aid funds to help curb migration, even though the evidence shows that migration can bring development benefits, writes Kate Hooper of the Migration Policy Institute.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

Crises & Conflicts
Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

Why Lebanon Objects to Calls for Voluntary Return of Syrians

Maja Janmyr Professor of International Migration Law, University of Oslo

As Lebanon holds elections, key politicians have stepped up tough talk on returning Syrian refugees. Maja Janmyr unpacks the political and legal basis of Lebanese opposition to refugee integration and to the international demand that returns must be voluntary.about 2 years ago

Laws & Policy
Community
Op-Eds

How Israel’s Secret Refugee Deals Collapsed in the Light of Day

Yotam Gidron Associate with the International Refugee Rights Initiative

Israel’s plan to send African asylum seekers to Uganda and Rwanda put years-long secret deals up for public and legal scrutiny. Yotam Gidron of the International Refugee Rights Initiative explains how Israel’s African deals over refugee transfers fell apart.about 2 years ago

Integration
Refugee Voices
Solutions
Community
Q&A

When Refugees Lead: Conversation with German Politician Omid Nouripour

As part of our series ‘When Refugees Lead,’ we speak with Omid Nouripour, a German politician from the Green Party whose family fled Iran in the 1980s.about 2 years ago

Assad Needs the U.N.’s Help for Refugees to Return Safely

Jesse Marks Fulbright Fellow and Scoville Peace Fellow based in Amman, Jordan Dr. Lina Kreidie Tobis Fellow at the Ethics and Morality Center, University of California

Peace Deal Alone Will Not Stem Flow of Eritrean Refugees

Cristiano D’Orsi Research Fellow and Lecturer, SARCIL

Unlike Salvini, Italians Still Believe in Welcoming Strangers

Tim Dixon Co-founder, More in Common

There’s No Hard Right–Soft Left Divide on Migration Policy

Katharina Natter Doctoral Researcher, University of Amsterdam Hein de Haas Professor of Sociology, University of Amsterdam

Refugee Education Is Key to Proving Dystopian Populism Wrong

Kemal Kirisci TUSIAD Senior Fellow in the Foreign-Policy Program, Brookings Institution Nicoleta Nichifor Master of Arts in Arab Studies, Candidate at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service

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

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

Long Live Multilateralism: Why the Global Compact for Migration Matters

Marta Foresti

How Borders Are Constructed in West Africa

Survival Strategies for Fleeing Eritrea

Katie Kuschminder Assistant Professor, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance

Looking Past Outrage and Violence to See the Border

The World Is Failing Internally Displaced People. Here’s One Solution.

Mark Yarnell Senior Advocate, Refugees International

Why Algeria Is Emptying Itself of African Migrant Workers

Debora Del Pistoia Freelance Journalist

The Jordan Compact Would Work Better If We Listened to Refugees

Laura Buffoni Senior Livelihoods Officer - UNHCR

E.U. Deportations Risk Further Destabilizing Mali

Fabian Wagner Former Co-Spokesperson, Federation of Young European Greens

How Photographing Lost Objects Revealed Another Lens on Migration

Western Leaders Ignore New Peak in Global Displacement at Their Peril

Michael Dempsey National Intelligence Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

More Than Outrage, We Need to Face Hard Lessons on Migration

Marta Foresti

Why Comics Are So Effective at Telling Refugees’ Stories

Poppy Ogier Research and Communications Officer, PositiveNegatives

To Lead IOM, Isaacs Must Disavow Trump’s Migration Agenda

Jeremy Konyndyk Former Director, OFDA

Unpicking the Asylum Scandal That Shook Germany

Lena Riemer Deputy Managing Director, Graduate School Human Rights under Pressure

Nothing About Us Without Us: Why Refugee Inclusion Is Long Overdue

Sana Mustafa Founder of Sana Mustafa Consulting

How the Media Can Better Listen to Refugees

Alia Dharssi Researcher and Journalist Francesca Fionda Investigative Journalist and Data Reporter, The Discourse

Why Hiring Refugees Is Good for Business

Cyierra Roldan Policy Analyst, Fiscal Policy Institute David Dyssegaard Kallick Deputy Director, Fiscal Policy Institute

Deeply Talks: Europe’s Migration Laboratory

How Cities Can Help Solve Europe’s Crisis Over Refugees

What’s Behind Zambia’s Growing Welcome to Refugees

Nicholas Maple PhD Student, The Refugee Law Initiative

When Refugees Lead: The Youth Leader Fighting Deportations in Sweden

Why Big Data Cannot Fix Migration Statistics

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

How the Security Industry Reaps the Rewards of E.U. Migration Control

Mark Akkerman Researcher, Stop Wapenhandel & Transnational Institute (TNI)

How Yemeni Refugees Photographed Their World

Mayors Can Help the Refugee Compact Turn Words Into Action

Jessica Brandt FELLOW, BROOKINGS

Funders Must Recognize Refugees Have Assets, Not Just Needs

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

Why Spain Is a Window into E.U. Migration Control

Gonzalo Fanjul Head of Research, porCausa Foundation

When Refugees Lead: A Conversation With Wales’ Refugee Coalition Chair

E.U.’s New Aid Fund Will Fan Tension Over Migration, Development Goals

Kate Hooper Associate Policy Analyst, Migration Policy Institute’s International Program

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

Why Lebanon Objects to Calls for Voluntary Return of Syrians

Maja Janmyr Professor of International Migration Law, University of Oslo

How Israel’s Secret Refugee Deals Collapsed in the Light of Day

Yotam Gidron Associate with the International Refugee Rights Initiative

When Refugees Lead: Conversation with German Politician Omid Nouripour

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Jesse Marks Fulbright Fellow and Scoville Peace Fellow based in Amman, Jordan

Dr. Lina Kreidie Tobis Fellow at the Ethics and Morality Center, University of California

Katharina Natter Doctoral Researcher, University of Amsterdam

Hein de Haas Professor of Sociology, University of Amsterdam

Kemal Kirisci TUSIAD Senior Fellow in the Foreign-Policy Program, Brookings Institution

Nicoleta Nichifor Master of Arts in Arab Studies, Candidate at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service

Alia Dharssi Researcher and Journalist

Francesca Fionda Investigative Journalist and Data Reporter, The Discourse

Cyierra Roldan Policy Analyst, Fiscal Policy Institute

David Dyssegaard Kallick Deputy Director, Fiscal Policy Institute

Stephan Scheel Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Twente

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

Christine Mendonca CEO and Cofounder, Humans on the Move

Negar Tayyar Philanthropic Adviser, Manages the Global Whole Being Fund