Experiences of externally displaced Ukrainian women: a longitudinal study of financial resilience recovery, economic behavioral decisions, and financial inclusion in displacement

Abstract The expansion of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 resulted in the external displacement of Ukrainian women and their dependents into neighboring countries. We examine the financial and economic impacts of displacement and relocation in the lives of Ukrainian women externally displaced in Moldova, Romania, and Poland. We use a mixed-methods longitudinal survey of 1,289 displaced Ukrainian women over 18 months, including three rounds of surveys and two rounds of in-depth interviews. Findings show many of the financial stresses acutely experienced by displaced women persist throughout the study period, emphasizing the long timeline of financial resilience impacts of displacement. Second, results illustrate how displaced women’s financial and economic choices reflect their negotiations of uncertainty regarding residency, financial well-being, and dependent care needs.