The phrase “Nothing is more permanent than the temporary” pointedly describes the situation in which many refugees around the world find themselves. The final conference of the EU-funded research project TRAFIG (Transnational Figurations of Displacement) on 3 May 2022 will discuss situations of protracted displacement, coping strategies of refugees and chances for building sustainable futures.

Quelle: trafig.eu

On 3 May 2022, more than 40 representatives from academia, refugee communities, politics, practice and civil society will come together in Brussels to participate in an exchange of knowledge entitled “‘Nothing is more permanent than the temporary?’ Understanding protracted displacement and peoples’ own responses”.

For the past three years, the EU-funded Horizon 2020 research project Transnational Figurations of Displacement (TRAFIG) has investigated long-lasting displacement situations in Africa, Asia and Europe and analysed options to improve displaced peoples’ lives by enhancing their chances of building sustainable futures. Undertaking more than 2,700 interviews with displaced people, policymakers and practitioners in 11 countries, TRAFIG has studied the reasons why people end up in protracted displacement situations and what coping strategies they use, identifying possible courses of action for policymakers and solutions that are better tailored to the needs and capacities of displaced persons. The project focused on long-lasting displacement, but its findings also provide important lessons for preventing new displacement from becoming protracted.

At this final conference, TRAFIG researchers will share what they learned and launch a Policy Handbook with the project’s key messages on strengthening policy responses to protracted displacement. Representatives from the European Commission, practitioners, refugee communities and academia will contribute their insights on how more displaced people can access more and better solutions. Speakers will also discuss the war in Ukraine and what lessons from TRAFIG can be applied to address displacement in this context.

You can join the conference in person or online by registering here.

For questions, please contact [email protected].