Ethiopia’s refugee response: focus on socio-economic integration and self-reliance

Ethiopia’s progressive new refugee policy stands to benefit refugees, host communities and the government.

Implementation of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework represents a major shift in Ethiopia’s refugee policy. Refugees living in camps will benefit from paid employment. Those in protracted situations will have opportunities to integrate locally and live outside camps. Jobs will be created for host communities and government will access international finance and political benefits. Expected implementation challenges include ethnic and resource-related tensions and low wages.

About the author

Tsion Tadesse Abebe is a Senior Researcher with the ISS Migration Programme. Her research focuses on migration and forced displacement policy and dynamics of intra-African migration. Tsion has a Master’s degree in gender and peacebuilding from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace (UPEACE), and a certificate in international labour migration, economics, politics and ethics from the University of Oxford.

Picture: UNHCR/Anna Hellge