This spring term, Dr Amanda Alencar visited the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda) to conduct an exploratory study on the technology-enabled economic strategies refugees and migrants use, in collaboration with scholars at both institutions. Many people in these communities face serious barriers to earning a living and accessing financial services, and must navigate restricted access to socioeconomic rights, protections, and opportunities.
In addition to interviewing refugee participants in Nairobi and Kampala, Alencar conducted ethnographic observations across a range of settings, including street markets, refugee-led associations, training programs, and online networks. The project helped identify the most critical challenges affecting communities in terms of financial inclusion and livelihoods. This particularly included issues related to limited or missing connectivity, alongside the solutions that community members develop to support both individual and collective needs. Both visits were made possible through the support of an Erasmus Trustfonds grant and were crucial for establishing connections and building collaborative research engagements with refugee-led organizations in both cities.
From research to action in policy
The goal of the project is to translate the found insights into practical action through a policy symposium planned for February 2027. This symposium will present the findings to development and humanitarian agencies, credit unions, and local financial authorities, with the aim of strengthening access to financial inclusion and scaling support systems that are already working in practice. Amanda is currently working with research teams at both universities to contribute to interdisciplinary projects addressing climate risks, community-driven financing, and technology.
Opportunities for connection
During her research visits, Alencar was also able to deliver four guest lectures which drew on her work on digital technologies and urban displacement. Giving her the opportunity to mentor students’ projects through writing and research workshops, covering topics such as digital and qualitative methods, PhD opportunities, and career strategies. As a final note of her visit, Alencar attended the ICA conference in Cape Town. At the conference she presented in two panels that she co-organized: the first one centered around the role of communication in responding to a world in crisis, and the second focused on intercultural communication as a catalyst for achieving the SDGs.
- Researcher
