Participation and learning: a quasi-experimental examination of refugee settlement program and its impacts on refugees’ socioeconomic capabilities

Abstract

The severity of today’s global refugee crisis calls for the involvement of international nonprofit organizations and their comprehensive settlement programs. However, evidence of these programs’ effectiveness, especially in African settings, remains limited. This study examines how international nonprofit programs affect refugee settlement using the case of economic activities and community engagement in Uganda. We implemented a quasi-experimental design to evaluate whether participation in these programs is associated with positive differences in refugees’ attitudes and behaviors regarding economic involvement and community problem-solving through social learning. Our findings suggest that nonprofit initiatives may play an important role in promoting refugee settlement and fostering social integration.