Key Performance Indicator framework for refugees integration in Uganda

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Introduction

The involuntary movement of people continues to be a challenge globally. In 2021, approximately 89.3 million people were displaced by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuses and by May 2022 the number had risen to 100 million (UNHCR, 2022a). Over the last one and half decades, there has been annual rises of internally displaced persons (IDPs) by conflicts within their countries. In 2021 the figure of IDPs was about 53.2 million and these numbers outpace solutions for IDPs (UNHCR, 2022a). Globally, the number of refugees is about 27.1 million.  Article 1(A)(2) of the 1951 Refugee Convention defines a refugee as “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion” (UNHCR, 2016). Most refugees reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) (Adaku et al., 2016;UNHCR, 2022c).

Uganda currently hosts most refugees in Africa, and it is the sixth refugee receiving country in the world after Turkey, Iran, Columbia, Germany and Pakistan (UNHCR, 2022c). According to the UNHCR (2022c),  the country hosts almost 1.5 million refugees. Uganda has a long history of opening its borders to those that need asylum as a result of political persecution or armed conflicts in their countries (Sebba & Zanker, 2022). In 2022 only, 130,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan fled the continuing violence to find safety in Uganda, putting further pressure on an overstretched humanitarian response e.g., health care, schools and support for income generation activities (UNHCR, 2022b).

Uganda is considered a role model for hosting refugees, its Refugee Act of 2006 is considered progressive (Bohnet & Schimitz, 2019; Omata, 2020). Since 2016, the country has implemented the Refugee and Host Population Empowerment (ReHoPE) strategy which aims at harmonizing the refugees response in the country by integrating refugee programming in the National Development Plan. The ReHoPE strategy is a part of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). It is one of the outcomes of the New York Declaration on Refugees that was adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on 19 September 2016, with the hope to ease pressure on hosting countries and promoting refugee self-reliance (UNHCR, 2017; Bohnet & Schmitz, 2019).

In its road to achieving the integration of refugees, Uganda is implementing a self-reliance approach. This is being done through the implementation of the Refugees Act of 2006, of “integrated settlements” (World Bank Group, 2016; Kreibaum, 2016). The integrated settlement approach recasts the notion of a traditional camp from a humanitarian obligation that consumes resources (Jansen, 2016) to a component of regional development that attracts investment. These camps are located adjacent to a host community’s settlement and offer residents of the host community access to the camp’s services, schools, and infrastructure upgrades (Krause, 2021). Integrated settlements have benefited both refugees and host communities, the refugees with land and livelihood opportunities and then the host benefit from improved services (Idris, 2020). In relation to the above, Khasalamwa-Mwandha (2021) highlighted that integrated settlements and service delivery has increased the interaction between the host communities and the refugees. Some of the interactions include trade and informal exchanges, collective farming, labour exchanges, social and cultural interactions (through sharing religious, cultural and sporting activities) (ibid). Furthermore, refugees living in integrated settlements are given small plots of land to build houses and conduct farming; they are permitted freedom of movement, legal employment, access to the host community’s markets, access to health care and use rights to allocated plots of land (World Bank 2016; Egadu, 2019). Integrated settlements are intended to foster refugee self-reliance through agriculture and other livelihood strategies (Kreibaum, 2016).

While there is evidence of the effectiveness of refugee settlements in delivering services and promoting integration, the settlements also accomplish political goals such as containment and control (McConnachie, 2016). Furthermore, while the influx of refugees in some places is considered an economic burden (Owens, 2009), separated camps intentionally keep refugees from integrating with host communities (Kibreab, 2007) and are by design strategically located to restrict political agency (Turner, 2015; Olivius, 2017). Thus, integration and self-reliance are difficult goals to achieve when refugees in camps are not allowed to move freely, and if they have limited opportunities to work alongside or with host communities in urban areas (Berke & Larsen, 2022).

In looking at the case of Uganda’s integration of refugees, it is important to understand the concept of integration itself. Harrell-Bond defined integration as “a situation in which host and refugee communities are able to coexist, sharing the same resources both economic and social with no greater mutual conflict than that which exists within the host community” (Harrell-Bond, 1986). Heckmann (2005) also defined integration as ‘… a long-lasting process of inclusion and acceptance of migrants in the core institutions, relations and statuses of the receiving society’. Penninx (2004) conceptualizes integration holistically under four major categories which are cultural, social, political, and economic. Cultural integration pertains to learning and adopting new cultural knowledge such as language (Castles et al., 2002); social integration concerns local social relations and services such as health and education (Castles & Miller, 2003); political integration is participation in political processes such as voting (Castles et al., 2002); and economic integration refers to participating in the economy, for example, through the labor market or business (Castles & Miller, 2003).

There are multiple indicators for successful refugee integration as proposed by scholars, international organisations, government, and non-governmental organizations but these differ with context. Some indicators include participation in the labour market, formal education, having intra and inter-group relations, access to land, language acquisition, belonging, socio-economic mobility, cultural preservation, and visibility (Tyson, 2017; Walther et al, 2020; Strang & Quinn, 2019). A study conducted in Northern and Southern Uganda from July 2017 to September 2017 highlighted challenges in achieving integration especially around three main domains that is land, employment, education, and intra and inter-group relations (Bohnet & Schmitz, 2019). The settlements where refugees live are in very remote areas (UNHCR Data Portal, 2022) and over three quarters of refugees live below the international poverty line, and significant challenges include reduction in food rations (Hargrave, Mosel, & Leach, 2020), lack of firewood for cooking, insufficient income and other resources (Sebba & Zanker, 2022).  With regard to land, the plots were reported to be small and of poor quality making it difficult for refugees to be sustained through agriculture. There have also been reports of limited opportunities for sustainable work and education. Historical grievances and conflicts have also been ignored when setting up refugee settlements in Uganda and some of the resettlements have caused resentment of locals which negatively affect integration (Bohnet & Schmitz, 2019). Additionally, a study by Khasalamwa-Mwandha (2021), indicated negative interactions of host communities and refugees in Uganda such as ethnic and inter-community violence, unequal shares of aid resources, breach of land boundaries and borders and competition over common pool of resources. The above-mentioned challenges provide evidence of the need for more efforts to ensure refugees co-exist with refugees in Uganda.

Furthermore, despite the overall settlement approach, which ties refugees to remote areas, there are also several self-settled refugees living in urban areas such as Kisenyi, Kansanga, and Kabalagala in Kampala, and others in Arua and Gulu cities to seek for better economic opportunities (Monteith & Lwasa, 2017; Tshimba, 2022). There, refugees carve out their own modes of belonging although with some challenges. These include invisibility within the political context (Hovil, 2018), problems in registration processes (involving basic registration of bio data and family composition, as well as health and security screening checks), and yet registration is an important requirement even for those refugees eligible for prima facie refugee status (currently South Sudanese and Congolese refugees) (Norwegian Refugee Council, 2019). In urban areas they also experience challenges in accessing healthcare, accommodation, harsh treatment from landlords, police harassment, limited access to healthcare, jobs, livelihood opportunities, vocational training programmes and struggles with registering business licences (Monteith et al. 2017; O’Callaghan et al. 2019; Sebba & Zanker, 2022). Challenges with accessing and securing gainful employment contribute to the self-settled refugees with formal qualifications being employed in the informal sector or being self-employed (Tshimba, 2022).

The challenges that self-settled refugees experience shows the need for more focus on their situation and on strategies to improve their circumstances and yet refugee settlement approach to integration receives less attention in the urban context. Efforts by the UNHCR to promote integration of refugees in urban areas, such as their 2009 policy on urban refugees and the 2014 Alternatives to Camp policy, received little political attention and resonance (Hovil 2018). Furthermore, according to Tshimba (2022), there is scarce information on refugees that are self-settled or that are in urban areas. This reveals a gap in the promotion of integration among refugees in urban areas in Uganda.

Therefore, to realise the goal of integration as a key factor for well-being and belonging for refugees as well as peaceful co-existence with the communities they live with, there is a need to look at the current frameworks, policies and indicators for integration and their implementation. There is a need to take into consideration contextual factors in defining integration, from the refugees themselves, the local communities; and people who work closely with the refugees need to participate in defining integration. Integration varies according to context, time, interests, values and perspectives of the people concerned and these need to be considered as key factors for successful integration (Robinson, 1998; Sigona, 2005; Tyson, 2017). To fully integrate the refugees into the host communities and include them in the country’s developmental plans, their needs and perspectives need to be taken into consideration in defining what integration looks like and the strategies that could work in achieving it. There is also a need to consider the voices of refugees who are not in settlements including those living in urban areas. There is also a need to factor in the members of the host society and their experiences with the integration processes (Pace & Simsek, 2020).

As such, the Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa (SIHMA) and its collaborative partners, are proposing a study to understand the needs of refugees and issues around their integration in Uganda, in order to develop a Key Performance Indicator (KPIs) framework for refugees integration. The findings of this study will be used in informing decisions around refugees’ administration, policies and the implementation of welfare, advocacy, and other support programmes. As SIHMA, the main goal is to inform programmes focused on the welfare and integration of refugees in Uganda, specifically, the Scalabrini Fathers’ mission in Uganda. Furthermore, data will be used to provide a benchmark or indicators that organisations working with refugees can use to ensure integration and to measure the effectiveness of their work. Additionally, as an outcome of this research SIHMA in collaboration with interested organisations/stakeholders working with refugees will conduct training with organisations and stakeholders working with refugees on the KPIs framework developed; and conduct a pilot on the implementation of the KPI framework in communities with refugees as a way to further refine the framework.

Aim

The aim of the study is to develop a Key Performance Indicator Framework for refugees integration in Uganda.

Objectives

The main objectives of the study are to:

1. Identify the specific support needs of refugees in Uganda.
2. Explore the perception and understanding of refugees, local people and stakeholders on the concept of integration.
3. Explore the existing welfare and integration programmes available in Uganda.
4. Determine the facilitators and the barriers to the integration of refugees in Uganda.
5. Develop a Key Performance Indicator framework for the integration of refugees in Uganda.

Main Research Question

What are the Key Performance Indicators for refugee integration in Uganda?

Project Design

This study will use a qualitative approach in the form of an ethnographic design to develop the KPI framework for integration of refugees in Uganda. An intervention mapping framework will be used as the framework to guide the design of the study. This overarching approach allows for an in-depth understanding of the presence of refugees in Uganda, their needs, facilitators, and barriers to integration. Through this process KPI framework and recommendations for integration will be developed to promote the well-being and integration of refugees in Uganda. This approach has been chosen as it provides a blueprint on developing solutions of interventions (Bartholomew, Parcel, Kok & Gottlieb, 2001). The intervention mapping framework consists of the following steps: 1.) Identification of needs; 2.) Selection of theoretical and practical strategies; 3.) Design the programme, 4.) Implementation of the programme, and 5.) Focus on anticipating process and effect evaluation. The study will focus on steps 1 to 3, which allows for the collection of data aligned to the objectives of the study and to develop a KPI. Other stages entail the implementation and measurement of the identified KPI.

Phase 1: Identification of the Needs

Document Review

This stage will focus on reviewing and analysing literature focusing on mapping the presence of refugees in Uganda, understanding their needs, barriers and facilitators to their integration and existing indicators for integration.  The team will do a document and policy review using databases, relevant policy documents from the government and information from Non-profit organisations websites. International and national (Uganda) literature and policies on refugees will be reviewed. The document review will specifically focus on the following concepts: 1. Refugees presence; 2. Refugees needs; 3. KPIs for refugees integration; and 4. Barriers and facilitators for integration. International and national policies that focus on refugee integration will also be reviewed. Relevant policies from the government and non-profit organisations websites and various databases will be identified for inclusion in the review.

Data Analysis

The identified literature and policies will be analysed through thematic analysis, whereby themes will be inductively developed from the data. This process entails familiarisation with the data, developing codes from the data, developing, and refining themes, and defining and naming themes. Data from this phase will be used to inform the development of research tools for phase 2 and to inform the development of the KPI framework for integration.

Phase 2: Data Collection

As indicated earlier we will use a multi methods approach to understand the situation and needs of refugees in Uganda, the perception and understanding of refugees and other stakeholders on the concept of integration and the facilitators and barriers to refugees integration. This will be conducted using qualitative data collection methods.

1. In-depth individual interviews

At this stage we will interview refugees, representatives of different organisations and the host population to have an in-depth understanding of the needs of refugees, their perception and understanding of integration, barriers, and facilitators to integration. Through the interviews we will also ask them to identify the indicators that they believe are essential for their integration. The interview schedules will be developed beforehand informed by the gaps in literature and in consultation with different stakeholders. This process will allow the different actors to construct key determinants and outcomes for integration of refugees.

Stakeholders working with refugees for example, Cabrinian sisters, Salesian Priests, International Rescue Committee, Jesuit Refugee Services, KfW, Lutheran World Federation, Malteser International, Mercy Corps and Norwegian Refugee Council will also be selected for inclusion in the study. These participants will be selected in Adjumani and the Kampala districts. The inclusion of stakeholders will be essential in developing KPIs for integration since they work with refugees and understand what their integration needs are. At this we propose a total of 30 refugees to be selected for inclusion in the study 15  from each district to have an in-depth exploration around their needs, existing welfare and integration programmes, barriers and facilitators to integration and what integration looks like from their own perspective. 10 stakeholders (5 from each district) from organisations working with refugees will be interviewed and 10 participants (5 from each district) from the host population.  We will also take into consideration the aspect of data saturation in qualitative data collection to determine the actual sample size.

Group	Sample
Refugees living in Adjumani district	15
Refugees living in Kampala district	15
Host population in Adjumani district	5
Host population in Kampala district	5
Stakeholders in Adjumani district	5
Stakeholders in Kampala district	5
Total Sample	50

 

2. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)

FGDs will also be used to understand the intersubjective perspective of refugees towards integration in Uganda. Through the FGDs a further exploration of the needs of refugees, their perception and understanding of integration, barriers, and facilitators to integration. In the FGDs they will also determine the indicators that are essential for their integration.

For the FGDs, 4 group discussions (2 in Kampala district and 2 in Adjumani district) will be conducted with refugees. Each group will consist of 6 to 10 refugees. These will be purposively selected for inclusion in the study. A FGD schedule will be developed beforehand containing questions that are critical in guiding the discussions. A trained facilitator and an assistant will conduct these FGDs and all information will be recorded.

Data analysis: Data from in-depth interviews and FGDs will be analysed inductively using thematic analysis. ATLAS.ti will be used as a data management software. The six-phase of thematic analysis will be followed as proposed by Braun and Clarke (2006). The 6 phase analysis process involve:

(i)               the researchers familiarising themselves with the data by reading and re-reading the transcripts;

(ii)              generating initial codes by selecting quotations or data from the interviews. Codes will be developed from the qualitative data itself, there will be no preconceived codes;

(iii)            going through the codes and the quotations, identifying the mistakes in the coding and making comments;

(iv)            themes generation through sorting different codes into related clusters. Themes will be refined by breaking them down further or merging them;

(v)             Naming and defining themes to explain the ideas captured by each theme. Theme names will be developed to sufficiently capture the idea in the specific themes. Subsequently, the themes will be checked against the original quotations, ensuring that the quotations confirm the classification into the theme. An audit trail will also be conducted by having an independent researcher going through the analysis and where there are inconsistencies they will be discussed and revised;

(vi)           The final analysis and the write up of the findings will then be carried out, linking the themes to the quotations by the participants and then commenting on both the quotations and the themes. Data from this stage will be used to inform the development of a KPIs framework and recommendations for refugees integration in Uganda.

Phase 3: Development of the KPI Framework for refugees integration

Stage 1: Delphi Technique

At this stage a draft KPI framework for refugees integration will be developed based on the information from the previous phases and stages. Once the draft KPI framework is developed it will be circulated through a Delphi technique with purposely selected stakeholders to get their opinion on the indicator framework. A Delphi study is a method that seeks opinions and consensus of different experts/stakeholders on a particular topic for example in the development of an intervention/guidelines/frameworks. Using a Delphi technique with different stakeholders (including refugees themselves, individuals working with refugees and other interested stakeholders) will be useful in getting expert information needed for the quality crafting of the indicators. Highly motivated and willing participants will be chosen for involvement. These will be identified through a purposive selection of the different stakeholders. Stakeholders who participated in the interviews will also be approached for participation in the Delphi. The draft or proposed KPI framework will be developed and given to the identified participants in two or three rounds. The feedback from the first round will be analysed and based on the feedback from the first round, the proposed KPI framework will be revised and circulated again to the participants for the 2^nd round. The feedback from the 2^nd round will be used to revise the KPI framework for the next round until consensus is reached or a KPI framework on refugees integration has been agreed on.

Data analysis: Data from the Delphi will be analysed quantitatively using SPSS at the end of each round. Comments from the stakeholders will also be checked and taken into consideration. Components and subsections where the stakeholders did not reach consensus will be submitted for the next round and results will be analysed and recommendations from the participants will be implemented until consensus has been reached.

Stage 2: Consensus workshop

Participants: Based on the outcomes from the Delphi technique, workshops will be conducted with refugees, experts in the field, organisations working with refugees and communities to provide them with feedback on the findings of the study as well as the developed KPI Framework for the integration of refugees. The participants will actively participate during the workshop by commenting and asking questions based on the presentation. The information collected will be merged to improve and reach a consensus on the framework.

Data collection tool: Tools to be used will include laptops, data projector and information sheets which will be distributed to the participants for the purposes of giving feedback of the previous stages. Flipcharts, whiteboard markers and sticky notes will be used for note taking based on activities and inputs from workshop participants. Based on the developed KPI the participants a short guide containing questions will be developed to understand the participants perception on the developed KPI and also get their additional input in case an important aspect would have been missed.

Data analysis: The participants’ contribution during the workshop will be transcribed and analysed thematically. The results and recommendations that will emerge from the analysis of the workshops will be used to further improve the quality of the developed KPI Framework and recommendations for the integration of refugees.

Phase 4: Implementation of the proposed Framework

The main goal of this study is to develop a KPI framework and recommendations that can be used to inform programmes and interventions to promote the integration and well-being of refugees in Uganda. Therefore, the findings of this study and the developed indicator framework and recommendations will be shared with various stakeholders to inform their programmes. We will conduct some trainings and pilot implementation of the proposed KPI framework for the integration of refugees in collaboration with other organizations mainly in Adjumani and Kampala. Logistics of the training will be planned and implemented in collaboration with partner organisations.

Ethical Considerations

Ethics approval will be obtained from Makerere University Social Science Research Ethics Committee, and later, approvals will be sought from the relevant government departments  and other organisations operating in the space for example Office of the Prime Minister and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology will be consulted for field approval. The following ethics will be adhered to after approval and subsequent research clearance granted: informed consent, the research purpose, aims and objectives of the study and research process will be explained to the participants. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions on the research and the process if any. After participants have been thoroughly informed about the study, they will be provided with an information sheet and a consent form which they will complete and sign before participating in the study. The documents containing data from the participants will be separated from the consent forms so that participation is anonymous. Anonymity will be ensured allocating codes to each of the participants masking their personal details. The participants’ identity will be concealed in written and verbal reports of the results. Beneficence will be ensured by informing participants that they will not be harmed or deceived in any way. The researchers will protect the participants from any harm and at the same time maximise the benefits of the study to them.  Participants will be informed as part of the informed consent process and throughout the study that they do not have to answer questions that make them uncomfortable. All study staff will be trained to pick-up on any early signs of discomfort and distress during interviews. Should respondents present with signs of discomfort or distress, they will be actively linked to appropriate care with the permission of the participant. Confidentiality will be ensured by storing any data and fieldnotes in a secure locked cupboard and password protected computer. The data will only be accessed by the researchers. The data will be destroyed after 3 years. A record showing which data was destroyed, and when and how it was destroyed will be kept in a safe cabinet. Privacy protection will be built into the design and implementation of the study. The fieldworkers and the study team will sign a binding confidentiality clause to hold them not to disclose participants’ information.

Participants will not benefit directly from taking part in this study. However, the information provided through the interviews will provide useful data that will be used to inform programmes aimed at promoting integration and the well-being of refugees in Uganda.

 

Photo by Redfam on Pixabay

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Researchers & Consultants

Fr Filippo Ferraro; Dr Rachel Chinyakata; Dr Robinah S. Nakabo

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Partners & Stakeholders

Missionaries of St Charles Scalabrini Uganda

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Bibliography & References

 

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Keywords:

• Intergration, key perfomance indicators, refugees, Uganda