International Research Cluster 2023/24

Conflict-Induced Displacement and Socio-Economic Resilience: Learning From Neglected Conflicts in Cameroon and Myanmar

Subproject 1 generated new empirical knowledge on the neglected Anglophone conflict in Cameroon and its effects on internally displaced persons through the use of mixed-methods research. The results were consolidated in two master’s theses at the University of Bamenda (Forji 2023, Kegne 2023). The study on the labor market integration of IDPs revealed that only 31% had achieved integration, with the majority working in the informal sector. The study on IDPs changing livelihood strategies found that forced displacement caused a substantial decline in livelihood capitals, with women and children disproportionately affected. The findings were disseminated via academic and public platforms, including a feedback workshop in Cameroon and a short documentary film, illustrating how displaced households rebuild their livelihoods despite limited state support.

Subproject 2 focused on the socio-economic integration of migrants and refugees from Myanmar in the Thai border region. It involved two master’s students and one bachelor’s student who conducted extensive qualitative and quantitative research in Mae Sot, examining refugees’ labor market integration, the livelihoods of displaced Myanmar women, and refugees’ educational aspirations (Becker 2023, Teusen 2025, Thwe 2023a). The studies showed that while refugees from Myanmar possess valuable skills that could meet some of Thailand’s labor market needs, they face significant challenges to integration. Myanmar women in particular experience heightened insecurity and discrimination at the intersection of migration status, gender, ethnic minority identity, and language barriers. For Myanmar refugee youths, pursuing an educational career in Thailand proves especially difficult due to differences in educational systems and languages of instruction, as well as their overall liminal situation and lack of stability and prospects to plan for the future. Research results were presented in the International Migrants Day Conference at Chulalongkorn University and at the University of Cologne. 

Subproject 3 examined remittance channels under conditions of violent conflict, with a particular focus on Myanmar–Thailand transfers. Adopting a quantitative approach, the team conducted a survey of 200 migrants in Mae Sot, supported by a private, non-profit educational institution. The study generated unique data on the widespread use of informal remittance systems – such as the “hundi” network – among migrants and refugees, an area largely underexplored in economic research. It also provided the empirical basis for developing a three-sector theoretical conflict model using the case of Myanmar. The collected data contributed to several papers currently under review and laid important groundwork for future research on financial resilience in fragile contexts.

Subproject 4 aimed to assess the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in capacity building and conflict prevention. This objective was pursued through a series of CIF-funded activities, including public lectures, workshops, and the 2024 Final Conference. Notably, the cluster’s findings and their connections to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) informed the design of a joint MA course on conflict-induced displacement and economic resilience, and were integrated into the Erasmus+ BRIGHTS initiative led by the International Office of the University of Cologne. These activities highlighted the potential of universities to act as catalysts for global responsibility and SDG implementation through student engagement and cross-regional collaboration. This impact is further illustrated in a short film featuring the research and experiences of Su Myat Thwe, one of the master’s students involved in subproject 2. 

By bringing together scholars from anthropology, development studies, economics, geography, and political science, the cluster demonstrated the University of Cologne’s capacity for interdisciplinary global research on pressing societal challenges. It positioned the University as a hub for comparative research on conflict-induced displacement, building on existing strengths in global inequality, migration, and sustainable development—core areas of the Global South Studies Center (GSSC) and the Cologne International Forum (CIF). Through the integration of project results into teaching, public lectures, and media outputs, the cluster further strengthened the University’s global visibility and underscored its commitment to academic partnerships aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It thus serves as a strong example of the “Global Responsibility” approach within the University’s internationalization strategy.

The CIF-funded cluster achieved its central aim of advancing international research collaboration on conflict-induced displacement and socio-economic resilience. It generated new empirical data, reinforced institutional partnerships across three continents, and supported the meaningful involvement of young scholars from conflict-affected regions. The project produced lasting outputs—including publications, films, and teaching innovations—creating academic, social, and institutional value that will continue well beyond the funding period.

• Balgah, Roland Azibo, Michaela Pelican, Naruemon Thabchumpon (eds). Conflict-Induced Displacement and Socio-Economic Resilience: Learning from Neglected Conflicts in Cameroon and Myanmar. (manuscript under review with Emerald Press).
• Becker, Simon (2023). Missed Opportunities? Understanding the Unmet Potential in Labor Market Integration of Myanmar Refugees and Migrants in Thailand. MA Thesis: University of Cologne.
• Forji, Angelus Efeutlancha (2023). Conflict-Induced Livelihood Changes and Strategies of Internally Displaced Persons in Bafoussam in the West Region of Cameroon. MA Thesis: University of Bamenda.
• Kengne, Eli Nembot (2023). Labour Market Integration and Return Perception of Forced Migrants in Bafoussam in the West Region of Cameroon. MA Thesis: University of Bamenda.
• Teusen, Madita (2025). “It’s Hard to Have a Dream”: Myanmar Youth’s Higher Education Aspirations in the Context of Protracted Displacement in Thailand. BA Thesis: University of Cologne.
• Thwe, Su Myat (2023). Intersectionality and livelihoods of conflict-induced displaced Myanmar women in Mae Sot, Thailand. MA Thesis: Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD). 5915. DOI: 10.58837/CHULA.THE.2022.204 available at https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/chulaetd/5915