Dubai Cares and UNHCR: Voices of Refugee Youth

“Voices of refugee youth: impact of post-primary refugee education” is an ongoing research study conducted in partnership between UNHCR and Jigsaw. The research is funded through the Dubai Cares Evidence for Education in Emergencies (E-Cubed) funding window. The research links to UNHCR's efforts to support post-primary education for refugees and host communities. 

The purpose of the study is to make a significant contribution to the evidence base regarding post-primary refugee education. The research has four data points and tracks refugee youth in Pakistan and Rwanda across a two-year period. The participants are secondary school (Class 12) or higher education (final year bachelors) refugee students. A mixed-method approach is being applied and this includes a  large multi-point survey as well as focus groups and key informant interviews. The research study began in November 2018 and completion is anticipated in 2022. 

The study is based on an innovative youth-centred methodological design. Teams of refugee youth researchers are trained in social science research methods to collect data as core contributors to the research study. Work is underway to secure an accredited qualification in social science research for the youth researchers from an international higher education institution. As far as we know, never before have refugee young people been engaged as core researchers within a large-scale refugee education research study in a low-income environment. We are excited to have the opportunity to undertake this important work - and are committed to ensuring that the results of the study are used to help shape effective programme and policy-level decision making. We will share more details here in the months ahead.

For more information check out the digital platform for the research study: https://research4refugeeeducation.org/ 

On the digital platform you can meet the youth researchers, read blog posts written by them and find the research outputs!