Human Development Research Initiative

Discover the profound connections between France's colonial past, migration flows from Africa, and their lasting ripple effects on security, society, and development in this groundbreaking research paper. Authored by Lejla Ajdin and edited by G.M. Barbetta, this HDRI study dives deep into migration from former French colonies, focusing on Morocco and Niger to France, where immigrants comprise over 10% of the population.🌍✨ ​ Our study examines how colonial histories shape tod

🌿 A UNESCO forest. A border wall. A humanitarian emergency that EU law is struggling to address. HDRI's new Migration & Security paper examines what has been unfolding at the Białowieża Forest, on the Poland-Belarus border, since 2021. Author Guglielmo Maria Barbetta traces the overlapping consequences of border militarization: systematic pushbacks denying migrants access to asylum, documented violence against people stranded in dangerous conditions, and a fortified wall cut

This research written by Amjad Nablsi  and edited by Guglielmo Barbetta, explores how large-scale refugee return is reshaping security and stability in post-war Syria, showing that while return brings hope, it can also trigger violence, reprisals, and new governance challenges. The paper argues that safe and sustainable return depends on fair, civilian-led security forces , inclusive reforms, and coordination between state actors and aid organizations. It reframes refugee r

The objective of this paper is to explore techniques to cope with the limited water access for the Za'atari refugee camp.

After Kazakhstan gained its long awaited independence in 1991, these ethnic minorities started leaving the country, supported by...

This policy paper seeks to shed light on the challenges in the implementation of UNHCR’s community-based protection framework at Za’atari...