Refugees and Social Assistance in Low- and middle-income Countries : A Review of Operational Experiences

This paper gathers lessons from major development investments and reviews the broader evidence base on the inclusion of refugees and their host communities in national social protection programs in low- and middle-income countries (L&MICs). L&MICs host the global majority of refugees, who often live below the poverty line and in impoverished host communities with inadequate access to basic services. International institutions such as the World Bank and the European Union have invested several billions of dollars to reverse this situation through social assistance programs. Growing evidence suggests cautious optimism about the results of such interventions. Although L&MICs are rolling out safety nets to refugees and their host communities, these initiatives face unique operational challenges. Policy makers should allocate adequate time and resources to build the capacity of government mechanisms for social assistance delivery in the often-peripheral areas hosting refugees, strengthen collaboration with government and humanitarian refugee agencies, and foster host governments’ buy-in to this critical agenda.