Final annual meeting held in Addis Ababa

Team members discuss overarching themes emerging from the research

The 3rd Protracted Displacement Economies (PDE) annual meeting was held on 13-15 March 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The annual meeting was hosted by the Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA).

Day 1 focused on key findings from the countries in which research is being conducted. There was also a session on the main global-level themes that have emerged from the qualitative data gathered though the project.

Day 2 centred on a stakeholder engagement event organised by OSSREA. Speakers included representatives from national (Refugees and Returnees Service) and local (Somali Regional State) government, as well as representatives from Hiil Shacab, a youth civil society group. There was also an opportunity for overseas participants to visit Bole Michael, known as ‘Little Mogadishu’, due to its large population of Somali refugees.

Day 3 focused on planned research outputs, including a book of displacement narratives and various journal articles. There were also discussions about using the documentary films produced through the project and work that could be accomplished after the project ends later this year.