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2. Mapping the Structure of Well-Being and Social Networks of Refugees
- Author:
- Ammar A. Malik, Edward Mohr, Yasemin Irvin-Erickson, Loren Landau, Caroline Wanjiku-Kihato, and Benjamin Edwards
- Publication Date:
- 06-2017
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Urban Institute
- Abstract:
- Despite strong ethnic, linguistic and religious similarities with host communities, the presence of Afghan refugees since the 1970s has fundamentally altered Peshawar’s social fabric. Using an original household survey, we explore the structures and forms of refugees’ social networks and their relationship with economic well-being. We find that refugees maintain networks both within refugee and host communities, gaining critical help in finding jobs and housing, besides financial and emotional support. We recommend strengthening refugees’ capacity to self-organize via community-based interventions and clarifying the future of their legal status in Pakistan.
- Topic:
- Immigration, Refugees, International Development, Displacement, and Cities
- Political Geography:
- Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Asia, and Peshawar
3. Becoming Urban Humanitarians: Engaging Local Government to Protect Displaced People
- Author:
- Loren Landau, Caroline Wanjiku-Kihato, Jean Pierre Misago, and Benjamin Edwards
- Publication Date:
- 09-2016
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Urban Institute
- Abstract:
- People displaced into urban areas due to war, persecution, or climatic crisis have claimed an increasingly prominent position in humanitarian operations and research. Through an examination of three African municipalities currently hosting displaced persons we study the cognitive, financial, and political incentives that work for and against a proactive response to displacement. We find that in cities where deprivation is widespread, effective engagement with municipal authorities demands a shift in approach. Rather than appeals to domestic or international protection principles, effective engagement with local authorities requires recognizing local authorities’ interests and incentives to develop strategies to align protection concerns with local political economic factors.
- Topic:
- Economics, Humanitarian Aid, Displacement, Urban, and Cities
- Political Geography:
- Uganda, Kenya, Africa, and South Africa
4. A Political Economy Framework for the Urban Data Revolution
- Author:
- Benjamin Edwards, Solomon Greene, and G. Thomas Kingsley
- Publication Date:
- 04-2016
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Urban Institute
- Abstract:
- As the global population grows increasingly urbanized, city governments will assume ever-greater responsibility for addressing the challenges of poverty, inequality, and environmental sustainability. To meet these challenges effectively, city leaders must base their efforts on good data and reliable evidence. This paper develops a framework for understanding the conditions under which city leaders access, analyze, and apply data to solve problems. We also suggest how the new UN Sustainable Development Goals can help overcome the institutional constraints and competing incentives that cities face in using data to drive decisionmaking for sustainable development.
- Topic:
- Urbanization, Sustainable Development Goals, International Development, and Cities
- Political Geography:
- United Nations and Global Focus
5. Triggering Increased City-Level Public Finance for Pro-Poor Sanitation Improvements
- Author:
- Jameson Boex and Benjamin Edwards
- Publication Date:
- 01-2015
- Content Type:
- Research Paper
- Institution:
- Urban Institute
- Abstract:
- This paper provides a general framework for understanding the political economy and fiscal determinants of sanitation service provision by urban local governments. The paper will address several questions: what do we expect to influence spending on local sanitation? Do different fiscal instruments have an impact on expenditure levels? Do increased local revenues lead to increased expenditures over the long term? What role do different stakeholders play in determining expenditure levels? The paper first looks at the role of political factors in constraining local expenditure decisions, then turns to a review of the fiscal determinants of service delivery expenditures.
- Topic:
- Political Economy, Governance, Urban, Sanitation, Services, and Cities
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus