Interventions to Improve the Economic Self‐sufficiency and Well‐being of Resettled Refugees: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ott Eleanor , Montgomery Paul 
Published: March 2017

This Campbell systematic review examines the effects of programmes on the economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being of resettled refugees. The review identified 23 relevant studies but none of these could be included in the analysis due weaknesses in study design.

No studies met the inclusion criteria of this review. Twenty‐three studies were identified which were not included in the review because their design meant that the effects measured could not be clearly attributed to the programmes.

Synopsis/Abstract

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review sought to identify and evaluate all available high‐quality evidence as to whether interventions affect the economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being of resettled refugees.

METHODS

We searched 18 electronic databases, examined relevant websites, and contacted researchers in an attempt to identify any relevant published or unpublished reports. No language restrictions were applied, and the search was completed in Sept 2013. Inclusion criteria were: (a) prospective, controlled methodology; (b) participants who were resettled refugees aged 18‐64 at the time of the intervention; (c) intervention designed to increase the economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being of resettled refugees; and, (d) included at least one of the following outcomes: labour force participation rate; employment rate; use of cash assistance; income; job retention; or quality of life.

RESULTS

A total of 9,260 records were inspected, and 26 records summarising 23 unique studies were screened. No studies met the review's inclusion criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

The available evidence was insufficient to determine if programmes affect the economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being of resettled refugees as no studies met the review's inclusion criteria. More research with rigorous designs, such as prospective, controlled studies, is needed to determine which interventions affect the economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being of resettled refugees.

Executive Summary

BACKGROUND

Globally, 51.2 million individuals are forcibly displaced and approximately 11.7 million of these have crossed the border of their country of origin and are classified as refugees of concern by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR, 2014). A minority of these refugees are moved through resettlement programmes to a third country. In 2012, 26 different countries offered refugee resettlement, with the goals of improving economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being for those resettled refugees. There are a myriad of programmes that may act to improve the economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being of refugees, including employment training, education, and interventions delivered by mental health services.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review sought to identify and evaluate all available evidence as to whether interventions designed to improve the economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being of resettled refugees affect participants' labour force participation rate, employment rate, use of cash assistance, income, job retention, and quality of life.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched 18 databases and the websites of relevant research, policy, and governmental organisations. We also contacted researchers in attempt to identify any relevant published or unpublished reports. Key search terms were (resettle* OR re‐settle* OR refuge* OR force* ADJ *migrant* OR asylum* OR humanitar* ADJ entrant* OR humanitar* ADJ settle*) AND (economic OR job* OR employ* OR mone* OR work* OR labor OR labour OR well‐being OR wellbeing OR well ADJ being OR quality NEAR life) AND (outcome* OR evaluat* OR effect* OR efficacy OR compar* OR experiment* OR trial OR control* OR random* OR study OR studies OR assessment OR impact* OR research*). We completed final searches in September 2013.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Studies were eligible for inclusion if they: (a) included a prospective, controlled methodology such as randomised controlled trial design, a quasi‐randomised controlled trial design, or a nonrandomised controlled design which provided information on, and adjusted for, baseline comparability; (b) included participants who were refugees who had been served by a refugee resettlement entity and were between the ages of 18 and 64 at the time of the intervention; (c) evaluated an intervention designed to increase the economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being of resettled refugees compared to a control or comparison group; and, (d) included at least one primary or secondary outcome (labour force participation rate, employment rate, use of cash assistance, income, job retention, and quality of life).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We inspected 8,264 records derived from the database search and 996 records derived from other sources. Initially, 26 records summarising 23 unique studies were screened. An additional 13 abstracts were also reviewed and one additional study was screened. The review authors independently examined the search results.

RESULTS

No studies met the review criteria. The data collection process appeared sensitive. Of the 9,273 records identified, 27 records (corresponding to 24 studies) were inspected in full text. We attempted to contact the authors of three studies that were potentially eligible for inclusion; two of these responded and their studies were excluded on the basis of the information they provided. Of the papers reviewed in full text, 21 records (18 studies) were excluded because they did not meet the methodology criteria, 5 records (7 studies) did not meet the population criteria, and 3 records (3 studies) did not meet the outcome criteria; one was excluded because the author did not respond. Several papers were excluded for more than one reason. Two papers were systematic reviews; all of the included studies from these were checked.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review indicated a need for further research on the economic self‐sufficiency and well‐being of resettled refugees. Such research needs to be sufficiently rigorous to indicate if and how interventions affect these outcomes. The authors recommend the use of randomised controlled trial designs, quasi‐randomised controlled trial designs, or nonrandomised controlled trial designs that adjust for baseline comparability. The lack of knowledge about the effects of interventions on these outcomes is surprising given the long‐term investments in programmes designed to assist resettled refugees, the number of refugees resettled, and the political importance of this subject.

For practitioners and policymakers, it is important to point out this review did not find any evidence for or against any intervention.