Purpose – This impact pathway paper develops an Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM) research agenda for addressing the grand challenge arising from increasing global displacement with a focus on managing service and support systems for people seeking refuge in Europe.

Design/methodology/approach – The developed impact pathways are informed by multi-disciplinary extant literature, secondary data sources, expert interviews, sandpit events, a panel discussion, and the authors’ field experience.

Findings – In this politicised and sensitive context, OSCM activities could be interpreted as protecting political interests over the preservation of human rights. Three pathways are developed to better address support challenges for people seeking refuge.

Research limitations/implications – The proposed OSCM research avenues will inform decision-makers with solutions to address this grand challenge.

Social implications – Given the misalignment between protection for people seeking refuge and the protracted nature of displacement, the legal, social, political, and operational interfaces deserve more research attention particularly given the allocation of European public resources. Goals include better policies and fit-for-purpose structures that deliver lasting solutions.