I am currently Senior Researcher on the Academic Alliance on Anticipatory Actions (4As) project at the Feinstein International Center, Tufts University. I was previously Senior Research Officer at the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford, running a project on urban forced migration to secondary cities in Uganda and Ethiopia. I hold a Masters of Science in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies from University of Oxford and PhD in International Development from the University of Oxford. I regularly consult with organisations and agencies including UNICEF-Innocenti and the Red Cross Climate Centre, supporting diverse work ranging from refugee-led youth initiatives to research on the intersection of conflict and climate hazards.

I am the author of over 70 publications for academics, practitioners, policymakers and the public on issues of refugees and forced migration. Most recently I have published 'Refugees, Self-Reliance, Development: A critical history' (Bristol University Press 2022), available here: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/refugees-self-reliance-development . The first chapter is available open-access (free) here: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/56713

I am an experienced researcher with a demonstrated history of working with refugees, including refugee community organisations, in Uganda and Kenya. I have longstanding experience researching refugee-led social protection initiatives in East Africa and the self-reliance and livelihoods of refugees.

My most recent RSC research project, ‘Responses to Crisis Migration in Uganda and Ethiopia: Researching the role of local actors in secondary cities’, was funded through Cities Alliance/UNOPS. Other research grants include a John Fell Fund grant, ‘Digital Livelihoods for Refugees? Exploring pathways to the new world of work in Nairobi and Tel Aviv’ and a small British Academy grant researching the impact of COVID-19 on digitalisation and refugee-led initiatives.

I hold skills and have interest in qualitative research, community-led NGOs, journalism, international relations, refugee policy and practice, and proposal writing.