Working Paper
Nabil Abdo, Independent Researcher
Rabih Jamil, Independent Researcher
Refugee Research and Policy Program, February 2020
Abstract
This paper attempts to examine different dimensions and factors influencing refugees’ participation in the informal economy as a means of securing their livelihoods, taking into consideration the Lebanese and Jordanian contexts. In doing so, it critically explores concepts widely used in studies on refugees from Syria and informs interventions targeting refugees in both Jordan and Lebanon. These concepts include resilience, livelihoods, adaptation, legality, and others. The paper proposes and adopts the political economy of informality as its conceptual framework, which will be framing the overall analysis. Moreover, it provides a critical analysis to the policy context that is governing the living and working conditions of refugees from Syria in both Lebanon and Jordan. This paper intends to help national researchers to critically perceive and understand concepts such as resilience, adaptation, livelihoods and informality.