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.
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.
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.
Publications
Right side: Houses in Melkadida refugee camp, Ethiopia. Photo: Raphael Bradenbrink
