Publications — Samuel Hall

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IIED : Policy Brief - Inclusive urban solutions: city actors engaging with displaced communities

IIED : Policy Brief - Inclusive urban solutions: city actors engaging with displaced communities

April 2024

Most of the world’s displaced people live in cities, yet there is little evidence on how to build lasting partnerships with city governments to support urban displaced communities.

Our co-founder Nassim Majidi along with Samer Saliba, Helen Elizabeth Yu authored this policy brief for The Protracted Displacement in an Urban World (PDUW) project. Exploring participatory planning and decision-making processes, bringing together city governments and representatives of displaced communities in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Jordan and Kenya. Four cities benefitted from increased dialogue on the needs of displaced people. Yet, it remains difficult to translate this awareness into sustained city-led coordination without filling city resourcing gaps.

This briefing presents the key lessons learned from the project to inform city-led, multi-stakeholder responses to urban displacement.

Read here

Samuel HallApril 16, 2024Afghanistan, displaced persons, WELLBEING, livelihoods, ethiopia, jordan, kenya, IIED, Policy Brief

IIED: Afghanistan's unfolding crisis; Wellbeing and livelihoods of displaced people before and after the regime change

IIED: Afghanistan's unfolding crisis; Wellbeing and livelihoods of displaced people before and after the regime change

February 2024

The Protracted Displacement in an Urban World project in Afghanistan aimed to understand the lives of displaced individuals in camp-like and urban settings. Initial data collection occurred before the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, with a follow-up one year afterwards to assess changes in livelihoods and wellbeing. The project, centred in Jalalabad city and Barikab settlement, evaluated five wellbeing dimensions. Key findings highlighted a significant economic downturn post-regime change, leading to increased hours worked for both men and women, more child labour, yet decreasing household incomes. Economic strain impacted health access, food security, and psychosocial wellbeing, notably worsening for women and urban displaced populations. The project calls for immediate humanitarian aid and targeted economic assistance, and emphasises the importance of gender inclusivity, community participation and a Humanitarian-Development Nexus approach for sustainable solutions.

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Samuel HallFebruary 26, 2024Afghanistan, displaced persons, WELLBEING, livelihoods

IIED: City Note - Urban Solutions For Local Integration in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

IIED: City Note - Urban Solutions For Local Integration in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

February 2024

With recent political developments, refugees in Addis Ababa face numerous challenges in terms of livelihoods, basic services and protection. Their legal status remains a concern, as do government officials’ gaps in awareness about refugee rights and state obligations.

In Ethiopia, our study with IIED for the Protracted Displacement in Urban World project focussed on Eritrean refugees and hosts living in Addis Ababa and Eritrean refugees Semera Logia town and Aysaita camp. Quantitative surveys of 365 refugees and 153 hosts living in Gofa Mebrat Haile condominium, and 372 refugees in Semera Logia and 366 Asyaita camp were supplemented by 150 qualitative interviews in the three locations. The participatory forums were organised by research partners DICAC and MCMDO, with support from Samuel Hall and Cardiff University.

Discussions moved towards planning for city resourcing at a time of need, because allocations for refugees have been mainly targeted at camps, with very limited urban funding. Addis Ababa forum participants agree that hosting refugees requires human and financial/material capacity. This calls for a more holistic approach to urban displacement, starting in the capital and scaled across Ethiopia. The government’s Refugees and Returnees Service has committed to working more closely with city authorities. Participants committed to raising awareness among officials and civilians, and to involving both the host communities and refugees in the design of interventions.

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Samuel HallFebruary 20, 2024

IIED: Displaced people in Afghanistan’s cities need support

IIED: Displaced people in Afghanistan’s cities need support

February 2024

There are over 3.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Afghanistan, along with a large number of returnees: half a million Afghans were forcibly returned from Pakistan between October and December 2023 alone. Forced evictions have also impacted IDPs in informal settlements across Afghan cities.

The pressures to return call for new approaches to durable solutions. In this context, stakeholders must invest in urban planning for cities to become spaces of inclusion.

In 2021 and 2022, we conducted two rounds of research in Kabul and Jalalabad, which revealed an economic collapse that is forcing displaced men, women and children to work longer hours to survive. This takes a toll on social relations. and bodily and mental wellbeing, reflecting a loss of hope for the future. In light of these findings, urgent humanitarian aid is required, alongside continuous monitoring, to adapt to emerging needs.

Download policy brief here.

Samuel HallFebruary 13, 2024Afghanistan, internal displacement, urban displacement

KNOMAD: Youth Migration & Development: A New Lens For Critical Times

KNOMAD: Youth Migration & Development: A New Lens For Critical Times

January 2024

Supported by World Bank and its TWG on youth & migration co-chaired by OECD & UNDP; Samuel Hall's paper with KNOMAD, “Youth Migration & Development: A New Lens for Critical Times”, aims to empirically validate conclusions in KOMADs scoping paper produced in 2022.

With case studies from Columbia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Senegal, Thailand and Tunisia, the study employed innovative qualitative research methods, filling crucial research gaps and re-conceptualising ‘youth’ and ‘migration’ through the perspectives of the young people.

Through this study, we aimed to better understand how youth migrant integration behaviour differs across age cohorts, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and countries of origin and between migrants and non-migrants.

Download here

Read our scoping paper from 2022 here

Samuel HallFebruary 1, 2024youth migration, Migration, displacement, Case study, Youth development

WUSC: Situational Analysis Access to Secondary Education and Economic Activities of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ethiopia

WUSC: Situational Analysis Access to Secondary Education and Economic Activities of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ethiopia

January 2024

Did you know that Ethiopia is experiencing a significant rise in internally displaced persons (IDPs), reaching a staggering 4.4 million by June 2023?

The situation has worsened due to a prolonged drought, the far-reaching effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and escalating tensions in northern Ethiopia. These factors have intensified health and socio-economic challenges, forcing thousands of households to relocate within the country's borders.

In response to this, the Displaced and Refugee Youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM) project is working towards creating an inclusive environment for refugee and displaced youth, with a focus on empowering young women to fully engage in society.

Samuel Hall conducted a situational analysis on IDPs in Ethiopia, focusing on their access to secondary education and economic opportunities. We found that challenges such as long distances to schools, overcrowded classrooms, language barriers, and poor hygienic conditions are daily obstacles. Innovative ICT-driven programs and structural initiatives like TVET, micro-credit opportunities, formal employment incentives, and infrastructure projects are essential.

Find out more of our findings and recommendations in our report.

Download here

Samuel HallJanuary 29, 2024ETHIOPIA, situational analysis, East Africa, Education

ADSP: Challenges Faced by Afghan Women and Children in Iran and Pakistan

ADSP: Challenges Faced by Afghan Women and Children in Iran and Pakistan

December 2023

Samuel Hall collaborated with the Asia Displacement Solutions Platform (ADSP) to contribute to two significant research briefs addressing pressing issues Afghan communities face. The first, "Forced to Migrate: Afghan Women Waiting for Protection in Iran and Pakistan," explores the reduced protection space and obstacles confronting Afghan families in the same regions The second, "Afghan Children’s Access to Education in Iran and Pakistan," sheds light on the challenges experienced by Afghan girls in Iran and Pakistan post-2021 migration.

These research briefs are pivotal in understanding the complexities of education rights and forced migration challenges in these regions. Our studies emphasize the urgent need for international support and a rights-based response. A key recommendation emerging from our research is the call for increased global solidarity and responsibility sharing to address the rights of Afghan women, children, and families.

Read the briefing note on Forced to Migrate: Afghan Women Waiting for Protection in Iran and Pakistan, here

Read the briefing note on Afghan Children’s Access to Education in Iran and Pakistan here

Middle East &North AfricaSamuel HallJanuary 11, 2024ADSP, women's safety, children, migration, displacement, Education

Equal Partnerships: Creating Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Address Urban Migration and Displacement in African Intermediary Cities

Equal Partnerships: Creating Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Address Urban Migration and Displacement in African Intermediary Cities

January 2024

African local governments are increasingly experiencing core issues of migration and displacement and their cities are directly impacted by (inter)national policies and (the absence of) funding flows. Nevertheless, national policymakers, international organizations and donors rarely consider local governments as relevant partners to address mixed migration. These cooperation gaps are problematic since human mobility plays an important role for African intermediary cities’ physical, social, and economic urban planning. Networked approaches could help bridging such cooperation gaps and breaking up policy silos. To explore opportunities and challenges of multi-stakeholder partnerships for urban migration governance the Equal Partnerships project organized participatory research, workshops, and networking formats with six cities in East, West and North Africa. This policy paper presents central recommendations for collaborative urban migration governance addressed to local and national governments, civil society, migrant and refugee associations, international organizations, private sector actors, and donors.

Read here

Samuel HallJanuary 1, 2024policy, Policy paper, Africa, urban migration, refugee

IIED: Participatory Forum on Protracted Displacement in an Urban World

IIED: Participatory Forum on Protracted Displacement in an Urban World

December 2023

Navigating the complexities of protracted displacement, our urban-focused study spans four countries: Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Jordan. As part of a global consortium, Samuel Hall collaborates with academic and practice partners for in-depth research.

Our extensive engagement, including five participatory forums in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by displaced populations. Through a consensus-building approach, we've crafted a city note presenting key findings and recommendations. The project delves into crucial aspects like economic well-being, access to basic services, psychosocial well-being, and perceived safety.

The insights gained contribute to policy recommendations, emphasising local integration, employment opportunities, legal documentation, and infrastructure improvements. Our commitment extends beyond data collection; we aim to sustain the participatory forums, fostering collaboration among government authorities, NGOs, and UN/INGOs for lasting impact.

Read the city note here

Find the PowerPoint for the Closing Event: Participatory Forum on Protracted Displacement in an Urban World here

Middle East &North Africa, East & Southern AfricaSamuel HallDecember 13, 2023Participatory Forum, IIED, migration, displacement, economic assessment, policy, UN

Equal Partnerships: African Intermediary Cities as Actors and Partners in Urban Migration Governance. City Report: Sfax, Tunisa

Equal Partnerships: African Intermediary Cities as Actors and Partners in Urban Migration Governance. City Report: Sfax, Tunisa

November 2023

The Equal Partnerships project led by Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg, Research on Migration, Displacement, and Integration (MFI), United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and Samuel Hall with support from Robert Bosch Stiftung explores the opportunities and challenges of collaborative, urban migration governance in African intermediary cities.

As part of this project, Samuel Hall developed a city report exploring urban migration governance in Sfax, Tunisia.

Tunisia’s second-largest city, Sfax is an important economic centre connecting the north and south of the country. While the city experiences rural-urban, inter-regional, and international migration; the increasingly difficult socio-economic situation, financial constraints, gender dynamics, the absence of a national migration strategy as well as the politicisation of mobility issues has resulted in unique implications on migration dynamics in Sfax.

To create an overview of activities, partnerships, and cooperation gaps, the Equal Partnerships project developed participatory field research and organised a local workshop with the support of the municipality of Sfax in January and February 2023.

The case study situates Sfax in the national and regional migration context, presents the outcomes of the stakeholder mapping, identifies opportunities and challenges of cooperative action on migration and concludes with concrete policy recommendations for strengthening multi-stakeholder action on urban migration and displacement.

Read the city report here
Find other city reports, developed as part of this project here.

Read our policy paper here.

Middle East &North AfricaSamuel HallNovember 16, 2023Equal Partnerships, Tunisia, Governance, case study, Urban Migration, urban displacement

Equal Partnerships: African Intermediary Cities as Actors and Partners in Urban Migration Governance. City Report: Garissa- Kenya

Equal Partnerships: African Intermediary Cities as Actors and Partners in Urban Migration Governance. City Report: Garissa- Kenya

November 2023

The Equal Partnerships project led by Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg, Research on Migration, Displacement, and Integration (MFI), United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and Samuel Hall with support from Robert Bosch Stiftung explores the opportunities and challenges of collaborative, urban migration governance in African intermediary cities.

As part of this project, Samuel Hall developed a city report exploring urban migration governance in Garissa, Kenya. Home to approximately 500,000 inhabitants, Garissa is a major economic hub. It holds significance in urban migration and displacement, especially in relation to regional conflicts, economic dynamics, climate change, and environmental decline.

We conducted a stakeholder mapping exercise to take stock of actors addressing migration and displacement . Further, to explore partnerships and cooperation gaps and opportunities, we conducted participatory field research with the county of Garissa and organised a local workshop in June 2022 and February 2023. Our research found that multiple actors cooperate on migration and displacement-related issues.

This report presents the outcomes of the stakeholder mapping, identifies opportunities and challenges of cooperative action on migration, and concludes with concrete policy recommendations for strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships to address migration in the urban context.

Read the city report here

Find other city reports developed as part of this project here.

Read our policy paper here.

East & Southern AfricaSamuel HallNovember 16, 2023Equal Partnerships, report, Migration, displacement, Kenya, Urban

UNICEF Innocenti - As They Move: Child and Youth Experiences of Migration, Displacement and Return in Afghanistan

UNICEF Innocenti - As They Move: Child and Youth Experiences of Migration, Displacement and Return in Afghanistan

October 2023

What has happened to the thousands of children who fled Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul 2021, and what awaits those forced to return? At Samuel Hall, we have been documenting post-return outcomes for 14 years. This latest collaboration with UNICEF Innocenti seeks to amplify the voices of Afghan children who recount difficult journeys, hardship, and neglect as well as resilience.

Thousands of Afghan children have been forced to return to Afghanistan to a situation either similar to or worse than the one they left. One 17-year-old boy we spoke to said, “To me, coming back to Afghanistan means struggling with life and living a poor life because there are no employment opportunities and a proper governance system to support you.”

Samuel Hall led the data collection at one of the most challenging times in the country’s history - after the fall of Kabul - and a team of scholars authored the final report. Our combined efforts underscore the urgent need for child-sensitive interventions and a call to uphold the rights of Afghan child migrants, first and foremost as children who need access to safer pathways both in and out of Afghanistan. No child, no adult, should be forced to return to Afghanistan at this time. UNHCR has made clear that those who do not wish to return to Afghanistan should not be forced to return.

Download Full Report Here

Samuel HallOctober 9, 2023As They Move, Child Migration, Reintergration, Afghanistan, Migration

IOM, UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, NRC: Documentation and Legal Identity in Afghanistan

IOM, UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, NRC: Documentation and Legal Identity in Afghanistan

August 2023

Access to legal identity is essential for Afghans to overcome mobility and protection challenges. Yet, the majority of Afghans do not possess passports or other vital civil documents like tazkiras. Since August 2021, it has become even harder to obtain identification and civil registration documents due to rising costs, office closures, staff shortages, and confusing procedures.

To assess the current civil documentation and identity management landscape in Afghanistan and provide actionable recommendations to enhance the protection of all Afghans across the country, Samuel Hall worked with the International Organization for Migration,UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, and NRC and the Interagency Working Group on Legal Identity (TWG) to publish a research study that provides the latest updates on this issue of rights in Afghanistan.

The study investigated civil documentation and identity management in Afghanistan, with a focus on accessibility to essential services and the acceptance of legal documents within Afghan society. It also aimed to identify opportunities for addressing these challenges and supporting the Afghan population.

Download Executive Summary Here

Download Full Report Here

Download Research Brief here

Samuel HallAugust 14, 2023Afghanistan, Civil rights, UNICEF, civil documentation

IOM : Mapping and research to strengthen protection and assistance measures for migrants with diverse SOGIESC

IOM : Mapping and research to strengthen protection and assistance measures for migrants with diverse SOGIESC

August 2023

The study was commissioned by IOM under the Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions initiative (COMPASS) to Samuel Hall who conducted a study in the Asia & Pacific region, European Economic Area, MENA, South America and West & Central Africa to support the development of inclusive measures for migrants with diverse SOGIESC to benefit from protection programming across their migration journey, as well as in return and reintegration.

The results are clear: Migrants with diverse SOGIESC have unique protection needs. Unfortunately, there is a lack of knowledge, services, and appropriate responses for these migrants, partly due to stereotyped expectations about their lifestyles and behaviours. The study also indicates that transgenders are the most vulnerable across different stages of the migration cycle.

Urgent action is needed! Through our report, we are pushing for inclusive shelters, accessible healthcare, and protection procedures to ensure NO ONE gets left behind. We are also encouraging good practices like partnerships between international organisations, local municipalities and civil society groups should be scaled up to ensure support and care for the community.

Download Executive Summary Here

Download Global Report Here

Samuel HallAugust 3, 2023South america, Central africa, Migrants, Migrations, Community focused

War Child UK: Children in Distress - An Afghan Child Focused Needs Assessment

War Child UK: Children in Distress - An Afghan Child Focused Needs Assessment

July 2023

Samuel Hall in collaboration with War Child Afghanistan conducted a needs assessment in Herat, Ghor and Badghis to contribute towards closing the knowledge gaps on the situation of children’s rights and well-being in western Afghanistan. The study brings to light, new evidence – including from children – on the challenges they face in previously inaccessible districts.

The findings show that children need informed and trained advocates to access support and overcome negative coping mechanisms. It is also important for households to address risks and bad choices while also creating safe spaces for children. The research underlined the potential for informal forms of support within the household. Home-centred models of support hold a potential for broader reach benefiting at risk children. It further suggests the need for safer home environments to facilitate these.

We suggest integrating child protection services into existing health and other programming, with a focus on child-friendly PSS work. There is an urgent need to influence local decision makers and build their understanding of children’s rights and also revive the Child Protection Action Network (CPAN).

Download Research Brief Here

Samuel HallJuly 28, 2023Afghanistan, children, CPAN, Child rights

British Red Cross: Onward Bound — Evaluating Cash and Voucher Assistance for Migrants on Sahel's Migration Trail

British Red Cross: Onward Bound — Evaluating Cash and Voucher Assistance for Migrants on Sahel's Migration Trail

July 2023

Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) can play a significant role in migration programming by providing support and empowering individuals or families who are migrating to meet their needs.

Recognising the value of granting migrants greater autonomy in meeting their immediate needs, humanitarian actors are increasingly turning to cash assistance. Its flexibility has proven effective in supporting migrants' ever-changing circumstances, but its use remains limited.

To better understand the opportunities and challenges of integrating CVA into migration programming, Samuel Hall, in collaboration with the British Red Cross, conducted a study focused on transit migration in the Sahel region—Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mauritania.

Despite their relevance, targeted cash assistance programmes for transit migrants are scarce, resulting in limited impact on their livelihoods. This is partly due to the perception that CVA would influence migrants’ decisions - a perception that evidence collected as part of this research strongly debunks.

To address these challenges, a shift is urgently needed from a country-based approach to a journey-based approach in planning CVA interventions in the Sahel region.

Download Report Here - EN, FR

Download Annexes Here - EN, FR

Migration & DisplacementSamuel HallJuly 14, 2023evaluation, Redcross, Financial infrustructure

MIGNEX: Comparative Experiences of Transit Migration Management

MIGNEX: Comparative Experiences of Transit Migration Management

June 2023

As part of the MIGNEX (Aligning Migration Management and the Migration–Development Nexus) consortium, Samuel Hall contributed to a background paper on ‘Comparative experiences of transit migration management’.

The text engages critically with the concept of transit migration and identifies key patterns of transit migration management at global, regional and country level. Through comparative analysis it examines the transit migration routes and policies of four countries: Turkey, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Pakistan.

According to Samuel Hall’s findings, transit migrants face a number of challenges, including exploitation, violence, detention, and lack of access to basic services.

As a way forward the background paper invites more research into discerning the impact of transit migration management on individual countries, on state and non-state actors, and on migrants themselves along migration routes.

Devising policy suggestions that will lead to a fairer distribution of responsibility to address protection needs in so-called ‘transit countries’ is also crucial.

Download Here

Samuel HallJune 29, 2023Europe, transit migration, Turkey, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Migration management, policy

IOM: Monitoring the Reintegration of Trafficking Survivors - Study & Toolkit

IOM: Monitoring the Reintegration of Trafficking Survivors - Study & Toolkit

June 2023

Samuel Hall in collaboration with IOM - UN Migration – presents findings from a study undertaken with 100 trafficking survivors and 40 individuals across Bangladesh, Nigeria, Republic of Moldova and Tunisia with ties to or expertise in reintegration programming. Through this study, we introduce a toolkit to monitor, and not evaluate, trafficking survivors’ reintegration experiences.

This monitoring report and toolkit aim to identify factors impacting the reintegration of trafficking victims. The report provides best practices for effective support provision, capturing individual understandings and reintegration priorities. The toolkit equips organisations with tools to strengthen the evidence base on successful reintegration, addressing a critical gap in supporting VoTs.

Download Here

Samuel HallJune 6, 2023ILO, trafficking, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Republic of Moldova, Tunisia, human trafficking

MIGNEX: The Implications of (Mis)Managing Transit Migration

MIGNEX: The Implications of (Mis)Managing Transit Migration

May 2023

Samuel Hall conducted research with MIGNEX (Aligning Migration Management and the Migration–Development Nexus) a collaborative research effort to tackle the challenges of global migration with a long-term vision for better outcomes.

According to Samuel Hall’s findings, Tunisia's migration policies need to be more comprehensive in order to effectively manage migration and promote development. The report, found that Tunisia's current migration policies are fragmented and lack a clear vision for how to manage migration in a way that benefits both Tunisia and its migrants.

The paper authored by Herve Nicolle recommends developing a comprehensive migration strategy that takes into account all aspects of migration, including economic, social, and security dimensions and strengthening the capacity of Tunisia's migration management institutions to effectively implement migration policies.

Download Here

Samuel HallMay 15, 2023Tunisia, migration policies, destination countries