Research programme

The Research Programme enables researchers with lived experience of displacement to lead research projects on issues related to forced migration and displacement from start to finish. Going beyond co-creation or simply incorporating refugee voices, RLRH equips affiliates with research design skills, offers practical opportunities to lead research, and   supports platforms  to use evidence to shape  policy and practice.

The programme operates through three streams: 1) collective research projects, led by RLRH staff, bring together teams to produce high-quality studies on humanitarian response and forced migration; 2) independent research grants support individual researchers to pursue their own inquiries, developing expertise while leading studies from conception to publication; 3) and research training provides structured skill-building for emerging researchers, helping them grow into leadership roles within the field.

Our research agenda focuses on three areas: livelihoods and self-reliance; leadership and participation of displaced populations in humanitarian response and policy-making; and access to higher education. We place strong emphasis on the ethics of research and prioritise approaches that actively engage displaced people in the design and validation of findings. The primary geographic focus is currently East Africa and Southeast Asia.

Download the Research Programme overview [PDF].