Heather Alexander, Carleton University
Maysa Baroud, American University of Beirut
Kiya Gezahegne, Addis Ababa University
Kassem Kassak, American University of Beirut
Yara Mourad, American University of Beirut
Nadia Nameh, American University of Beirut
Dulo Nyaoro, Moi University
Linda Oucho, African Migration and Development Policy Centre
Zein Soufan, The Specialists Development and Financial Consulting

Executive summary:

There exists extensive research on the ways in which North-South research partnerships replicate existing power imbalances and inequalities in the humanitarian system. As the field of refugee and forced migration studies continues to grapple with and address power asymmetries, however, there remains a lack of information on where and under what conditions localized knowledge ecosystems can demonstrate agency amid these oppressive structures. We lack an understanding of the mechanisms by which global South actors exercise agency despite the oppressive power structures that exist in forced migration knowledge production. This paper argues that such agency exists and is exercised by localized knowledge ecosystems throughout the Middle East and East Africa. To contribute to our collective understanding of localization, this paper summarizes recent research on localization in forced migration knowledge production, adopting an empirical approach.

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