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Is the self-reliance strategy sustainable? Evidence from assistance programmes to refugees in Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Marina Mastrorillo

    (The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT)

  • Antonio Scognamillo

    (Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, FAO)

  • Camille Ginet

    (Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, FAO)

  • Rebecca Pietrelli

    (Agrifood Economics and Policy Division/Office of Emergencies and Resilience, FAO)

  • Marco D’Errico

    (Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, FAO)

  • Adriana Ignaciuk

    (Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, FAO)

Abstract

The Ugandan self-reliance integration mechanism is one of the most progressive refugee integration policy of the world. Within this policy framework, refugees are provided with a land to cultivate and are free to work and decide their residence. This work provides quantitative evidence on lights and shadows characterizing such policy. Final objective of this work is to guide interventions aimed at increasing effectiveness and sustainability of such mechanism in the light of the rising refugee population in the country. Taking advantage of a unique panel dataset representative of around 80% of Ugandan refugees (as of 2018), this study specifically investigates the impact of cash and food transfers on a range of outcomes related to food security and self-reliance. Results show that both transfers reduce the likelihood of implementing negative coping strategies. However, transfers’ relative effectiveness depends on beneficiaries’ characteristics, context specificity, and outcome assessed. In particular, food transfers improve households’ diet, while cash transfers are more suitable to support self-reliance, but only for refugees that cultivate a sufficient extent of land. These findings are expected to add insights for policymaking to alleviate the refugees’ short-term humanitarian needs while paving the way to build long-term and sustainable pathways towards self-reliance.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Mastrorillo & Antonio Scognamillo & Camille Ginet & Rebecca Pietrelli & Marco D’Errico & Adriana Ignaciuk, 2024. "Is the self-reliance strategy sustainable? Evidence from assistance programmes to refugees in Uganda," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 16(6), pages 1587-1617, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:16:y:2024:i:6:d:10.1007_s12571-024-01467-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-024-01467-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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