The Socio-Economic Empowerment for Refugees in Mogadishu (Essay Sample)

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR REFUGEES IN MOGADISHU
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CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1. 0 INTRODUCTION
Refugees are people who have fled their country because of persecution, war, or violence. Every year millions of refugees worldwide seek new homes in other countries, fleeing conflict and disorder in their homeland in search of stability and peace abroad. The causes of refugee crises are the same factors that can fuel conflict and war in fragile states (UNHCR). By the end of 2014, there were still more than 1 million displaced people living in Somalia, including many living as refugees and asylum seekers. As conditions in Mogadishu have improved over recent years, and more opportunities to live and work in the city have become available, thousands of Somali refugees have returned from refugee camps in neighbouring countries or re-settled from other parts of Somalia, with many findings' employment in the capital. However, most refugees remain excluded from full participation in the city's economy, education system, and society (Abbas et al., 2018). This dissertation aims to document, analyze and assess the socio-economic condition of the refugees and their host community in Mogadishu. The city of Mogadishu is selected as the research site because it has become the refugee capital of Somalia, with thousands and thousands of refugees arriving every day.
1.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Refugees' social and economic empowerment is critical to their integration into host communities and society and their ability to improve their quality of life and their families. In Somalia, a country ravaged by war and instability, over one million refugees have been displaced by violence and conflict. Most of these individuals come from neighbouring countries like Ethiopia or Sudan, seeking refuge in Somalia due to the lack of economic opportunities at home or worsening security conditions that made it impossible for them to stay. Somalia could not provide several essential public services and infrastructure during its civil war (Murphy et al., 2019). It is estimated that half of Somalia's population is unemployed, particularly women, who make up most low-paid workers.
In addition, refugees in Mogadishu face many issues they must contend with. When refugees arrive in Mogadishu, they often have no family and friends to rely on for support. They also struggle with language barriers, cultural differences, housing shortages, chronic unemployment, and gender-based discrimination. These issues and the constant threat of physical violence mean survival is often challenging for them in Mogadishu (Mohamed Mohamud, 2020). This study aims to fill the gaps in the literature by examining how the refugees have been able to survive, with a specific focus on how they were affected by economic reforms undertaken in Somalia. The study examines whether the socio-economic empowerment of refugees has improved since the start of the civil war and what that means for their livelihoods.
1.2 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
This study can be justified because refugees face many challenges that they cannot overcome without help. The study findings would allow for new interventions to take place, alleviating some of the burden refugees face in Mogadishu. To achieve this, the study's main objectives include understanding the socio-economic needs of refugees in Mogadishu and how their circumstances have changed after years of civil war. The researchers intend to identify economic issues refugees in Mogadishu face from individual and macro perspectives. The researchers hope to understand if government policies have empowered them or if they still depend on international aid for their daily needs. In addition, the study will evaluate the effect of humanitarian programmes on refugees in Mogadishu and their ability to cope with the difficulties they face.
1.3 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
Since the outbreak of the civil war in Somalia in 1991, there has been a mass displacement of people within the country. An estimated 1.1 million people are internally displaced, while over two million have fled to neighbouring countries as refugees (UNHCR). In recent years, there has been a growing number of refugees returning to Somalia from neighbouring countries. These returnees often face significant challenges in terms of economic and social integration into their home communities, which can lead to poverty and other adverse outcomes for themselves and their families (Woods, 2018).
There is limited research about the prevalence of poverty among Somali refugee returnees, the causes and consequences, and what measures might help alleviate it. Socio-economic empowerment is essential in reducing poverty among those who have left their homeland to seek refuge elsewhere. Similarly, it would also be beneficial for returnees if they could be helped through better access to employment opportunities, improved access to markets and services, increased financial inclusion measures like bank accounts and credit facilities, and training opportunities. Various stakeholders identified measures aimed at socio-economic empowerment, including the government of Somalia, international organizations, and NGOs, as one way to combat poverty. These measures must be tailored towards Somali refugee returnees given their specific needs, circumstances, and conditions. A study conducted by UNHCR's Evaluation Office in 2011 found that approximately 50% of Somali refugees living outside Somalia live below the absolute poverty line. Some even struggled to survive on less than US$1 per day (Watson, 2019). Additionally, these same individuals had a significantly lower life expectancy than non-refugees living in their host countries.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.4.1 Main research question
The main research question is how refugees can be empowered socioeconomically in the Somali capital city, Mogadishu?
1.4.2 Specific research questions
How can the international community empower refugees through employment opportunities and access to education? How can refugees' access to financial services improve their quality of life? What strategies are being implemented by donors and government agencies working towards this goal? What are the challenges they face while working towards this goal? What successful strategies have been implemented to empower refugees' socio-economic status in Mogadishu? What are the socio-economic needs of refugees in Mogadishu? What are the available resources to meet these needs? How can refugees be empowered to access these resources? What are the barriers to socio-economic empowerment for refugees in Mogadishu? What are the best practices for the socio-economic appointment of refugees in Mogadishu? How do legal systems help refugees in the Somali city of Mogadishu?
1.5 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
1.5.1 Main research objective
To find out the socio-economic empowerment of refugees living in Mogadishu.
1.5.2 Specific research objectives
1. To provide an overview of the current status and progress of empowering refugees through a better understanding of their current socio-economic conditions, needs, opportunities, and potential solutions.
2. To identify gaps in addressing the economic empowerment of refugees to make recommendations that could help improve their economic situation.
3. To investigate the socio-economic status of refugees living within Somalia and make recommendations on how this can be improved, especially regarding employment opportunities.
1.6 HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY
Ho1: There is no significant difference between the socio-economic status of Somali refugees living in Mogadishu and those residing outside Somalia.
Ho2: There is no significant difference between the economic empowerment (E) level of Somali refugees living in Mogadishu and those residing outside Somalia.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study is significant as it will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the socio-economic empowerment of refugees. In particular, it will add to our understanding of how refugees can be empowered in Mogadishu, a context often neglected in the literature. Furthermore, the study will provide insights into the potential for refugees to become agents of change in their own right. Finally, the study will be helpful for policy-makers and practitioners working on refugee issues in Somalia and other similar contexts.
1.8 LITERATURE REVIEW
There is a significant body of literature on the socio-economic empowerment of refugees. This literature has generally been divided into two camps: those who advocate for economic empowerment and those who advocate for social empowerment. The former group emphasizes the importance of providing refugees with access to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. In contrast, the latter group emphasizes the importance of providing refugees with access to education and social services. Both groups have made compelling arguments for their respective positions, but there is still much debate about which approach is more effective (Mohamed, 2018). For example, one can argue that refugee entrepreneurship offers more significant potential for long-term self-sufficiency than refugee labour.
Theories such as the Refugee Development Framework (RDF) and Cultural Knowledge contribute to the ongoing debate by suggesting that both approaches are necessary for refugee success. These theories suggest that refugees will be more successful if given economic growth and social empower...