‘We sleep with the head inside, but the brain outside’: local integration in resettlement’s shadow

How do refugees perceive resettlement policy, and how do these perceptions influence local integration outcomes? In this article, we argue that refugees experience UNHCR’s three durable solutions—integration, resettlement, and repatriation—as interdependent rather than separate pathways. We investigate our argument in Uganda, drawing on in-depth qualitative data from twenty key informant interviews and five focus group discussions with thirty-four participants conducted in Kampala and two refugee settlements. Our findings reveal that refugees navigate resettlement and local integration policy domains concurrently and that their perceptions of one solution shape their engagement with others. Moreover, even though refugees cannot apply for resettlement, they proactively pursue resettlement and make decisions they believe might help their cases. This dynamic is fueled by an information environment where unclear eligibility criteria and limited transparency result in a reliance on informal information networks. The findings not only highlight the costs of siloing refugee protection solutions but also demonstrate how refugees proactively navigate policy spaces.