IRRI-Protection Risks Impacting refugees IRRI will carry out research as outlined below in a select number of refugee hosting districts to ensure a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics affecting communities in refugee hosting districts in Uganda.

On tensions between host communities and refugees, IRRI will document recent incidents, through individual interviews with those involved and with witnesses, and will conduct focusgroup discussions with both refugee and host communities to garner a better understanding of the issues that are currently creatingor are likely to create tensions between both groups, including the impact of humanitarian and development interventions and decisions by local governmental actors. Sufficient attention will be devoted to the gender-differentiated impact and the link to pressure on natural resources. Attention will also be given to understanding the interventions of existing formal and informal mechanisms forconflict resolution, such as traditional/cultural leaders.

On inter-refugee tensions, IRRIwill document recent incidents by interviewing actors and witnesses and will conduct focus groups with different communities to understand the deeper conflict dynamics. Researchers will suggest policy options that both allow humanitarian actors to managethe protection risks in the settlements, as well as mitigate dynamics that could increase the polarisation between different groups. Researchers will also consider the current and potential roles of community leadership structures, traditional leaders, NGOs and CBOs in addressing tensions among refugees and supporting long-term solutions.

On cross-border spill-over from South Sudan, researchers will document recent incidents, such as the incursions and recruitment by South Sudanese armed actors, by interviewing witnesses, including refugees, Ugandan citizens and local authorities, to document any patterns.

A cross-cutting theme throughout the research will be understanding the gendered nature of theconflict dynamics, including: the gendered natureofconflict triggers; the gendered impacts of conflict; and a gendered analysis of the possible conflict prevention and resolution strategies that exist or are proposed by the research. Particular attention will be played to ensure that research design allows for documentation and analysis of issues such as sexual violence, which often under-reported due to victim#s fear and associated social stigma.

Primary data will be collected through qualitative interviews with a cross-section of host and refugeecommunities and other stakeholders. Interviews will be conducted through focus group discussions and individual interviews with identified key informants. Researchers will conduct workshops in the refugee hosting districts to present and discuss preliminary research findings and draw on additional recommendations from on-the-ground stakeholders. One workshop will beconducted at the national level to compile perspectives different actors including UN agencies, government representatives and other key stakeholders such as the Interreligious Council representatives, NGOs and cultural leaders from the different regions in Uganda.