Introduction
ESRC funded doctoral researcher, doing a PhD in Social Policy at University of Birmingham. My research examines the possibility of applying Design Thinking in the refugee integration policymaking. Previous studies have examined integration policies, but they have not done so from the perspectives of refugees and host communities. And little has been done to involve these end-users directly in co-designing policies; this research will fill this gap, introducing a new approach to examining integration policies for refugees in the UK through a design thinking approach. It aims to create a deeper understanding of refugee integration systems in the UK at both National and Local levels. The objective is to develop practical policy ideas and recommendations that will support the development of a coordinated and holistic policy for sustainable integration for refugees in the UK.
Project Topic: The importance of user-experience in refugee integration policymaking: how can a Design Thinking approach inform a better UK integration policy?
Expert
ESRC funded doctoral researcher, specialised in using Design Thinking to tackle social problems with focus on refugee integration policies in the UK, and part time researcher in University of Birmingham focusing on early intervention for asylum seekers. Arabic speaker, with 10 years’ experience in humanitarian and research projects.
EXPERTISE
Design Thinking Research: able to design and execute user-centred research that generates insights and knowledge about social problems and provide solutions through service design.
Good communicator: able to communicate to variety of audience including governments, policymakers, donors, humanitarians, beneficiaries, and private sector.
Methods: journey maps, design sprint, participatory research, field work, participant observation, surveys, focus groups, qualitative interviews (remote and in-person).
Specialties:
Social Policy: able to give context to the ways in which social policy informs social change and improving the wellbeing of society on a large scale.
Programme/Project Management: able to manage multiple projects at the same time and oversee staff to ensure implementation of project outcomes.
Able to generate knowledge and insights of value to specialised and general audiences.
Humanitarian Fieldwork: Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece.
Research Fieldwork: Ethiopia, Lebanon, Greece, UK.
Fundraising/ Donor Relation: DFID, UN, Cabinet Office, Norwegian Government, Danish Government, US Department of State, Carnegie Endowment, and corporates/private sector.
Subject Matter Expert: Refugee Integration, Humanitarian Sector, Migrant Related Research, Social Inclusion, Using Innovation to Solve Social Problems, Social Policy Making and Governance, Syria Crisis, Refugee Crisis, MENA Region.
#DesignThinking #UserResearch #ServiceDesign #Policymaking #SocialPolicy #RefugeeIntegration #Migration #Humanitarian
Fields of expertise: Evidence for policy / knowledge valorization, Inclusive social development / inclusive societies / social inclusion, Migration, Monitoring and evaluation, Participation, Policy design and delivery, Social change / social transformations, Social innovation / public sector innovation / policy innovation, Social policy