Social Connectedness, Livelihoods, and Resilience in Complex Emergencies
In this partnership with Mercy Corps, the Feinstein International Center team investigates the nature of social networks and social connectedness, and explores how humanitarian assistance can strengthen these as a key aspect of resilience, recovery and relief interventions in complex humanitarian emergencies. This topic is at the crux of a central challenge faced by humanitarian actors: How can assistance best support people’s existing strategies for coping and adapting to crises? While these strategies take multiple forms, most of them are underpinned by people’s social connections and capital. This analysis of how humanitarian assistance has or can support the types of social networks people rely on during crises will help humanitarian actors design responses to better achieve recovery and resilience outcomes. The project consists of mixed methods research in South Sudan and Uganda, paying particular attention to the effects of identity, mobility and migration, and humanitarian action on social connectedness and resilience.
Sharing to Survive: Investigating the Role of Social Networks During Yemen’s Humanitarian Crisis
After more than seven years of conflict over 20 million Yemenis—66% of the population—are in need of assistance. Nonetheless, the humanitarian response in Yemen remains severely underfunded. This study examines the ways in which Yemenis have relied on their social networks to survive.
The Currency of Connections: Why Do Social Connections Matter for Household Resilience in South Sudan?
This study looked at how social connections during times of crisis enable populations to manage shocks and stresses in South Sudan.
Currency of Connections: The role of social connectedness among South Sudanese refugees in West Nile, Uganda
This briefing paper examines how South Sudanese refugees in settlements in West Nile, Uganda establish and leverage their social connectedness throughout the process of displacement and settlement.
The Currency of Connections: Why local support systems are integral to helping people recover in South Sudan
This paper provides aid actors insights into localized social protection and support systems in South Sudan and the ways in which humanitarian aid, including cash transfer programming, can both complement...
The Currency of Connections: The establishment and reconfiguration of informal livelihood groups in Bentiu, South Sudan
This briefing paper explores the establishment and reconfiguration of informal livelihood groups and associations as a form of socioeconomic connectedness in Bentiu, South Sudan.
The Currency of Connections: The evolution of pre-displacement connections in Bentiu, South Sudan
This briefing paper examines changes in social connectedness in the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site and surrounding town.
The Currency of Connections: The impact of weddings and rituals on social connections in Bentiu, South Sudan
This briefing paper examines changes to wedding rituals and the nature of marriages in the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site and adjacent areas of Rubkona and Bentiu towns.