Samuel Hall Stories

In this episode, join host Mwara Namelok and Samuel Hall co-founder Herve Nicolle as they step into the findings of the EU funded project PACES, a research project examining how migration and migration policy decisions are shaped amidst broader societal change.

This conversation draws specifically on PACES Policy Brief No. 3, titled "From Deterrence to Credible Choice: Rethinking Migration Policy at Origin ⁠[Read and Download here].⁠"

The brief challenges a common assumption behind much of migration policy today: that people migrate irregularly because they underestimate the risks, and that better information campaigns can change that. The evidence tells a different story, one where risk is already well understood, and where the real gap lies in the credibility, visibility, and accessibility of safer alternatives.

Want to learn more about the PACES project? Visit the website ⁠here.⁠

The PACES project has received funding under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, grant agreement N 101094279. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

We acknowledge the contribution of our numerous research participants who donated their time to share their life and migration experiences, their life aspirations, expectations and their dreams of a better future. In the PACES project, we seek to give them a voice, share their concerns with decisionmakers with the objectives of creating more equal societies where all, regardless of nationality, may enjoy the right of freedom of movement. 

🌍 From displacement to decision-making.

In this episode of the Samuel Hall Stories Podcast, we hear from Dr. Wilson Sanya, Mayor of Koboko, Uganda — a city where refugees don’t just live, but lead.

We discuss:

With 70% of displaced people living in cities today, this is more than a local story, it’s a roadmap for inclusive urban futures.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Music Credits: 

Pre-into music: The Remains of Hope/ Marcus Ringblom - Epidemic Sound

Intro and Outro Music: The Light from Within/ Howard Harper - Epidemic Sound

🎙️ Between the Lines | Ep. 8 From Aid to Agency: Rethinking the Donor Landscape for Refugees

Once shaped by emergency relief, refugee support systems are now shifting toward long-term development, sustainability, and localisation.

In this episode, host Mwara Namelok is joined by Lilian Obiye, policy expert at the Netherlands Embassy, to explore how global events, funding priorities, and political realities are reshaping the donor landscape and what it means for local and refugee-led organisations.

Together, they explore:

Tune in for a timely and insightful conversation on power, policy, and how we fund the future of refugee response.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms.

Music Credits: 

Pre-into music: The Remains of Hope /Magnus Ringlblom/ Epidemic Sound

Hook Music:  From Stardust - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen/Epidemic Sound

Intro and Outro Music: The Light/Loving Caliber/Ooyy/ Epidemic Sound

This World Refugee Day, we celebrate a superpower often overlooked in humanitarian systems: community.

In this episode of Between the Lines, host Mwara Namelok is joined by George Dralagar (Youth Voices Community) and Adior Ibrahim (COHERE), two refugee leaders building tangible, community-led solutions in Kenya.

Together, they discuss:

Why capacity strengthening must replace outdated ideas of capacity building

The structures refugee communities have already developed: from youth-run training hubs to mutual aid networks

How legal barriers and restrictive funding block genuine refugee participation

What solidarity truly looks like when it centres trust, not control

In this episode, we head to Kakuma, Kenya, to explore the politics of localised research in the face of shrinking humanitarian funding. 

Our Storytelling Officer Devyani Nighoskar speaks with Franco Ohisa, a researcher and community leader, on what it really means to lead  and be heard  from within.

We discuss:

Whether you're a humanitarian worker, donor, or field researcher, this conversation asks the tough questions about equity, power, and representation.

Don't forget to subscribe and share. Stay tuned for more episodes!

References: 

DRC: Localisation of Protection Programming in Garissa & Turkana, Kenya

Bridging Worlds: Insights From a Refugee Researcher

Music Credits: 

Pre-into music: The Remains of Hope /Magnus Ringlblom/ Epidemic Sound

Hook Music:  Elegy Unspoken/Rachel Sandy/Epidemic Sound; Audio clip from the protest in Kakuma Refugee Camp, courtesy of Franco Hisa

Intro and Outro Music: The Light/Loving Caliber/Ooyy/ Epidemic Sound

 In many parts of the world, women are forced to carry the weight of climate adaptation when men migrate in search of better livelihoods.

This episode is part of our Lines of Inquiry series – a behind-the-scenes look at how Samuel Hall approaches research on migration and displacement.

🎙️ In this episode, host Mwara Namelok speaks with Wendy Indira, an Area Coordinator at Samuel Hall, about the intersections of climate change, gender, and migration. Drawing on fieldwork from Kenya, Somalia, and Nigeria, they explore:

✔️ The hidden labour women take on in climate-affected communities

From pastoralist communities to urban settlements, this episode dives into real-world stories that challenge our assumptions and amplify women's resilience.

References: 

UNDP; Leading the Way: Women Navigating Climate Change, Mobility, and Resilience in Africa.

HABITABLE; Habitability and Adaptation to a Changing Climate: Impacts of climate change on agriculture and human mobility

GHANA

MALI

KENYA

⁠Coping With Climate Change — At Home & Away in Kenya⁠

Pre-into music: The Remains of Hope /Magnus Ringlblom/ Epidemic Sound

Hook Music: Torn from Your Embrace/Jon Bjork/Epidemic Sound

Intro and Outro Music: The Light/Loving Caliber/Ooyy/ Epidemic Sound

📊 What we measure shapes what we manage.  But do our metrics truly reflect the realities we aim to change?

 In this episode of the Samuel Hall Stories Podcast, host, Devyani Nighoskar goes Behind the Metrics with Marta Trigo Da Roza, senior Researcher at Samuel Hall to unpack how the metrics we choose shape the policies, programmes, and lived experiences of people in contexts of migration and displacement.

Together, they explore:

With real-world examples from our research at Samuel Hall, this episode is for anyone curious about how data influences the way we understand the world—and how we can use it to drive real change.

Pre-into music: The Remains of Hope /Magnus Ringlblom/ Epidemic Sound

Intro and Outro Music: The Light/Loving Caliber/Ooyy/ Epidemic Sound

Break Music: No More Reason/Farrell Wooten/Epidemic Sound

Don't forget to subscribe and share. Stay tuned for more episodes!

Show notes:

Planning for Inclusive Urban Solutions in Afghanistan - From the Protracted Displacement in an Urban World Consortium

REF: South Sudan’s Decades of Displacement: Understanding Return and Questioning Reintegration

IOM: Unpacking the Realities of Displacement Affected Communities in Afghanistan Since August 2021

IOM - Development of a Monitoring Toolkit and Review of Good Practices for the Sustainable Reintegration of Child Returnees

In this special episode, we’re joined by Nhial Deng, a South Sudanese refugee and advocate, as he redefines localisation in the humanitarian sector. 

Nhial’s journey—from Kakuma refugee camp to winning the Global Student Prize—offers valuable insights on empowerment, local leadership, and meaningful refugee inclusion. Through Nhial’s story, we explore how humanitarian practices can evolve to genuinely work with the communities they aim to support.

Listen in to discover the steps needed for true localization, beyond consultations and into community-led action.

Show Notes: -⁠ Voices of Resilience Podcast: Na'amal⁠

⁠- Storytelling in Research with Refugees⁠

Pre-into music: The Remains of Hope /Magnus Ringlblom/ Epidemic Sound

Intro and Outro Music: The Light/Loving Caliber/Ooyy/ Epidemic Sound

Break Music: No More Reason/Farrell Wooten/Epidemic Sound

Don't forget to subscribe and share. Stay tuned for more episodes!

In the latest episode of Samuel Hall Stories, host Mwara Namelok and Aol Jared, our Research Operations Manager, dive into years of Samuel Hall’s research on digital livelihoods to explore what’s working, what isn’t, and how barriers to access - including legal and infrastructural barriers continue to hold back progress.

We also tackle tough questions on exploitative work conditions in the digital economy, the promises of the new Refugee Act and the vital role of Refugee-Led Organisations (RLOs) in driving real change.

Tune in to hear practical and durable solutions for a more ethical, inclusive, and sustainable digital future for refugees.

Show Notes:

Digital Livelihoods for Refugees—Examples, Challenges, and Recommendations

WUSC & Mastercard Foundation: Market Assessment of Digital Employment Opportunities for Refugee Youth

This Refugee-Led Organisation is Championing Digital Skills in Kakuma

ILO – Towards decent work for young refugees and host communities in the digital platform economy in Africa

Championing Digital Livelihoods For Refugees In Kenya

Pre-into music: The Remains of Hope /Magnus Ringlblom/ Epidemic Sound

Intro and Outro Music: The Light/Loving Caliber/Ooyy/ Epidemic Sound

Break Music: No More Reason/Farrell Wooten/Epidemic Sound

Don't forget to subscribe and share. Stay tuned for more episodes!

Drawing from our research across Kenya, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, and Mozambique, with Islamic Relief Worldwide, this collaborative episode explores a vital question: How can faith actors effectively support local humanitarian and development efforts and strengthen localisation efforts?

Hosted by Devyani Nighoskar, our Storytelling and Communications Officer, the podcast features insights from our co-founder and principal researcher Dr. Nassim Majidi, and our research lead Juliette Samman.

Research Report: https://www.samuelhall.org/publications/islamic-relief-the-added-value-of-faith-actors-in-localisation-opportunities-and-barriers-in-humanitarian-action

Pre-into music: The Remains of Hope /Magnus Ringlblom/ Epidemic Sound

Intro and Outro Music: The Light/Loving Caliber/Ooyy/ Epidemic Sound

Break Music: No More Reason/Farrell Wooten/Epidemic Sound

Aidworker’s quote was read by a Voice Actor