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Generational Perceptions of Support Among Congolese Refugees in Urban Tanzania

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Abstract

Urban refugees frequently fall outside of the scope of humanitarian assistance programs. Despite a growing body of research describing the experiences of urban refugees in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of first asylum, little is known about generational differences in perceived support in these contexts. This phenomenological study used in-depth, semi-structured interviews and small group discussions to identify sources and meanings of support among older adult (50+; n = 23) and younger adult (18–30; n = 11) Congolese refugees in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Family and fictive kin emerged as central sources of support across age groups. However, instrumental support was sought outside of extended family networks. Older adults relied on religious networks for material assistance while younger adults sought instrumental assistance from friends and nongovernmental organizations. Implications for practice include supporting the unique needs of older adult urban refugees through family reunification, multi-family support interventions, and delivering assistance through religious networks.

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Acknowledgments

This work would not have been possible without support from a range of supports during fieldwork in Tanzania, especially Amleset Tewodros of HelpAge International, Victoria Gorham, and Jimy. I am grateful to Dr. Rebekah Coşkun and Dr. Cody Hollist, whose thoughtful conversations and feedback assisted in the development of this manuscript. I am especially indebted to those individuals who shared their stories with me.

Funding

Fieldwork for this research was made possible by a Grant-in-Aid from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Research Council.

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  1. Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 205 Louise Pound Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA

    Julie A. Tippens

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), and the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.

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Tippens, J.A. Generational Perceptions of Support Among Congolese Refugees in Urban Tanzania. Glob Soc Welf 7, 69–80 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-019-00155-2

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