My name is Raphael and I am a
My name is Raphael and I am a
I'm a
Researcher,
Author & Filmmaker
at the University of Oxford.
My name is Raphael and I am a
My name is Raphael and I am a
About me
I am a researcher, author, and filmmaker working at the intersection of social sciences, public policy, and visual storytelling. My work bridges interdisciplinary research with creative communication to make complex social issues more accessible.
I am a doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford, where I study the evolving role of private sector actors in refugee assistance and the economic lives of refugees. I am a member of the Refugee Economies Programme, the Refugee Studies Centre, the Centre for the Study of African Economies, and the Oxford Department of International Development.
Originally from southern Germany, I hold an MA in Political Science from Heidelberg University. I am also a Heinrich Böll Foundation PhD Fellow and a Jesus College Oxford Graduate Scholar.
Research
My research explores the economic lives of refugees and the evolving role of private sector actors in humanitarian assistance. I investigate how non-state actors, such as corporate philanthropies and development organisations, shape refugee economies and influence humanitarian governance.
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My work is interdisciplinary, spanning political economy, development studies, and economic history. Based on both, qualitative interviews and primary household survey data, I study how displaced populations navigate economic challenges and how partnerships between humanitarian agencies and private-sector actors transform aid models.
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By combining quantitative data with collaborative filmmaking in the Refugee Stories project, I work on creating a representative image of how refugees really live in Kakuma Refugee Camp.
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Publications
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Right side: Houses in Melkadida refugee camp, Ethiopia. Photo: Raphael Bradenbrink
