Strengthening knowledge, evidence use and leadership in the Global South on forced displacement: Focus on Francophone West Africa

 

West Africa has witnessed growing levels of conflicts, political violence, the proliferation of armed groups and extreme weather events that have put the lives of millions of people at risk of further displacement in the region. While existing research has identified the drivers, survival strategies and solutions of the vulnerabilities faced by displaced populations, limited knowledge exists on how to support them, and not much is known about the level of access that displaced populations have to existing public services, including education and health. Moreover, little is known about how existing governance systems, legal frameworks and mechanisms can be strengthened to promote services to displaced populations in Burkina Faso and West Africa and there is little knowledge of how gender and intersectionality intersect with the drivers of displacement and livelihood opportunities.

This proposed research chair on forced displacement, which will be hosted by the Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Population (ISSP) of Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, seeks to address these issues. It will draw on multidisciplinary and intersectional approaches to conduct relevant research to inform policies and innovative approaches to address the challenges of forced displacement in Burkina Faso. Through this research chair, the ISSP will contribute to generate a localized body of knowledge and to bring transformative solutions to influence policymaking processes in diverse communities in Burkina Faso. By mentoring early career scholars, this project will contribute to raising the voices and enhancing the leadership of young Burkinabé and West African scholars on issues pertaining to forced displacement.

This project is part of a cohort of research chairs that will be established in West, Central and East Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Research questions will underline the need to develop and design inclusive approaches to promoting and protecting the rights of forcibly displaced populations in Burkina Faso and in West Africa more broadly. There will be an emphasis on promoting exchanges between research chairs in these regions.