The Leave No One Behind Project (LNOB) was designed to address two problem areas. First, is to fill an important knowledge gap--to understand the experiences, challenges, opportunities, and constraints faced by female youth that have been displaced due to conflict. The second is to bridge empirical research findings with humanitarian policy and practice to improve humanitarian response.
The research process relied on a holistic approach, using a qualitative participatory design to solicit information about the lived experiences of female youth in displacement, and to shed light on the practice and experience of early marriage, as well as additional challenges included but not limited to: returns and migration, health, education, mental health, livelihoods and protection. LNOB conducted research with Syrian refugees and internally displaced Yazidis in the Kurdish Region of Iraq (KRI) and internally displaced South Sudanese in South Sudan (SS). A key goal of the study was to employ a novel methodology, by creating a cohort of female youth in the KRI and SS, that would be followed throughout the duration of the project. These girls were interviewed using a variety of participatory methods, every two months for a period of 12-14 months. Different marriage groups were targeted and include: unmarried girls, girls that married as minors and remain married, as well as those that later divorced or became widowed. As well, we included two additional subgroups in the sample: those that became pregnant as minors, as well as girls with physical, psychological and intellectual disabilities, regardless of their marital status. When possible, LNOB also interviewed a family member of the cohort participant.
In addition, we also interviewed NGO workers, community leaders, healthcare providers, educators, government representatives, and camp managers as key informants in our study locations. Our local researchers were from the affected communities in both countries. Despite extremely difficult circumstances related to COVID, we were also able to conduct many of the interviews remotely with our local researchers via WhatsApp. In total, we were able to create a cohort of approximately 100 girls, and we conducted 594 qualitative interviews which have been coded and analyzed.
