Keywords: forced migration, refugees, labour market, entrepreneurship, development

“Essays on Forced Migration and Labour Market Participation in Developing Countries”

In the light of the current migration and displacement dynamics taking place around the world, this dissertation explores the labour market participation of forced migrants and their households in the context of developing countries using the case studies of Afghanistan, Burundi, and Rwanda. The findings highlight the relevance of the respective context in which forced migrants and their households live during displacement as well as upon return, along with the importance of different kinds of capital (financial, human, and social) as determinants of the labour market activities of forced migrants, their households, and the societies in which they live more generally. Only by understanding the linkages between forced migration and labour market outcomes will stakeholders be able to make informed choices about interventions and policies that will be beneficial to all involved and further the self-reliance of forced migrants during displacement as well as their sustainable reintegration upon return, pre-conditions for them to contribute to development.