Protracted Displacement, From 'Burdens' to Urban Development

Abstract

This paper examines the potential for refugees to contribute sustainably to urban development, considering their diverse backgrounds and cultures amidst the challenges of displacement. Notwithstanding that national governments often perceive refugees as 'burdens' due to their deemed reliance on humanitarian aid and potential 'security threats' especially when living outside camps. Nevertheless, many refugees opt to settle within cities, rather than in camps. Drawing on empirical research conducted in Nairobi city and Dadaab camp in Kenya, this paper examines the rationale for refugees' access to cities, within African countries that implement encampment policies. Utilizing the capability approach, it analyzes refugees' economic concerns and subjective well-being. This offers insights into their productive livelihoods and agency based on (in) formal economies, culture, traditions, and social support networks as practices contributing to refugees' well-being and comparisons made between city and camp contexts. By advocating for refugee access to cities and aligning with the rights to the city concept, this paper argues that promoting refugees' well-being can lead to more inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable urban communities for all residents. Through an exploration of refugees' capabilities and potential contributions to urban life, this paper aims to reframe prevailing narratives of refugees as 'burdens' and highlight their potential as active agents in shaping urban development.