Paper short abstract:

Uganda adopted a Self-reliance Strategy to address its growing refugee population. Little attention is given to refugee cultural maintenance. This paper explores the tension between South Sudanese refugees’ need to protect their cultural norms and the implementation of the Self-reliance Strategy.

Paper long abstract:

In 1999, Uganda adopted a Self-reliance Strategy (SRS) to address its growing and protracted refugee population. Self-reliance is defined by the UNHCR as a refugee’s social and economic ability to meet essential needs in a sustainable manner with dignity. Uganda encourages refugee self-reliance by allowing them to choose where they settle. A refugee may choose to live in an urban center where they enjoy the right to work and access to government social services. Alternatively, a refugee may live in a rural refugee settlement where each family is given a plot of land to live on and farm. Self-reliance ensures that refugees are treated in accordance with human rights principles, and addresses human development and self-esteem among refugees/returnees.

In harmony with Uganda’s SRS, most refugee aid programs in Uganda focus on livelihood strategies to achieve self-reliance. In line with Western concepts and values, the programs target individuals and promote income-generating activities that rely on market-based transactions Similarly, most of the scholarly research on Uganda’s Self-reliance approach focuses on livelihood strategies and welfare outcomes. Little attention has been given to understanding refugee cultural well-being, practice, and maintenance during asylum. Moreover, there is even less consideration of the potential for cultural values and livelihood strategies to increase refugee self-reliance during asylum.

Using findings from a research project conducted in northern Uganda among Dinka refugees from South Sudan, this proposed paper will explore the tension between South Sudanese refugees’ need to protect their cultural norms and the implementation of the Self-reliance Strategy.