Dec 19 2024
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Amy Pope
IOM Director General
Foreword
The continuing rise in the numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) worldwide – up from 71.1 million in 2022 to 75.9 million in 2023 – is a stark reminder of the challenge we face as conflict, violence, disasters and climate-related events impose human costs on communities around the globe.
To overcome these challenges, we need more than the world’s attention. We need the world to act, to do better at delivering durable solutions that leave no one behind. That is the spirit behind the UN Secretary General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement and the mandate of the Office of the Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement.
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As Secretary General Antonio Guterres said when he launched the Action Agenda in late 2019 “more of the same is not enough”.
I am proud to share IOM’s second Periodic Global Report on the State of Solutions to Internal Displacement 2024 (PROGRESS24). PROGRESS24 is intended to support decision-makers - from policy to operational partners – with a fresh evidence base to improve outcomes for internally displaced persons.
This year’s collaboration with Georgetown University reveals the importance of creating conditions where people who are displaced can make informed decisions about what solution they prefer. Using data collated from 33 of the world’s most troubled displacement contexts, along with focused case studies of IDPs in nine countries, the report identifies the factors that go into what someone who is displaced wants to do next.
We want to increase the self-reliance of internally displaced people, so the choices of those people – whether to return home, resettle elsewhere, or integrate locally – must be at the heart of our work to find lasting solutions to displacement. When the options IDPs need are not available, their progress toward stability can be fragile and short-lived. That is why it is crucial for humanitarian and development partners to have data on what displaced families intend to do.
Even basic information about these intentions helps plan resources effectively, ensuring the right support is in place to guide IDPs along their chosen path to a durable solution.
The main finding of this year’s PROGRESS report reveals a difference in what IDPs plan to do, and current policy direction. There is often a bias toward returning IDPs to their communities of origin. However, the results of PROGRESS2024 - based on more than 85,000 household surveys– reveal a widespread intention of IDPs to remain where they are.
This finding showcases the critical importance of taking a people-centered approach by listening to IDPs and ensuring that their voices are at the heart of solutions planning and programming. Factors that impact the IDPs’ preferred solution include how long they have been displaced and why, along with their own safety, security and opportunity to pursue a livelihood, among others.
The findings invite humanitarians and development partners alike to take a renewed look at our collective advocacy, planning, data collection, and operational delivery, to help IDPs find and achieve the durable solutions they prefer. With the mandate of the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement Robert Piper concluding in December 2024, IOM’s data-driven humanitarian and development programming is moving forward with partners to improve the lives of IDPs, including data collection and analysis. The Special Adviser reflected that, “analysis like that contained in this latest PROGRESS report, is an integral part of fulfilling our obligations to internally displaced persons to let them design their own solutions pathway. To listen to displaced persons. To understand and respect their needs, perspectives and aspirations. PROGRESS contains a wealth of insights and evidence that must inform the way ahead”.
As we move into 2025, IOM remains committed to our Organizational Strategic Objective of driving solutions for displacement. PROGRESS24 is one aspect of our work to fulfil that objective. Based on our unparallel data collection and analysis system, PROGRESS offers the humanitarian and development system the essential data foundations upon which to continue delivering solutions for those we serve.
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IOM's Global Report on the State of Solutions to Internal Displacement 2024
The IOM’s Global Data Institute (GDI) and Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM) collaborated on the second edition of the Periodic Global Report on the State of Solutions to Internal Displacement (PROGRESS). PROGRESS24 aims to unpack the nuances of durable solutions by comparing intention preferences between those displaced by conflict and disasters. There are four components to PROGRESS24:
- Quantitative analysis using household surveys collected by IOM and REACH
- Qualitative analysis to include IDP perspectives
- Analysis of national laws and policies to support durable solutions
- Contribution from government and partners highlighting their work on solutions
In collaboration with
Objectives
Assess the status of progress toward solutions to support efforts by governments and other stakeholders to end displacement
- Review existing datasets to determine their utility in measuring progress toward solutions for IDPs
- Test a limited number of hypotheses about factors that may affect solutions for IDPs based on existing humanitarian datasets on IDPs, returnees and host communities
- Provide initial evidence to national authorities and other stakeholders on steps they can take to effectively support solutions
Identify key gaps in data needed to measure progress toward solutions and develop ways of addressing these gaps
- Operationalize the robust sets of indicators for solutions, particularly those used in the International Recommendations on IDP Statistics (IRIS) and Data for Solutions to Internal Displacement (DSID) recommendations, and seek ways to implement them in future data collection initiatives
- Set out a plan for future PROGRESS reports that addresses some of the limitations in existing data
Engage national governments and UN system actors to take measures which will facilitate solutions for IDPs
- Contribute to better understanding of how, where, and when solutions to displacement begin
UN Action Agenda
The annual report is part of IOM’s contribution to the UN Action Agenda on Internal Displacement
The PROGRESS report, provides a people-centered and operationally-relevant contribution to the UN Action Agenda on Internal Displacement through actionable data analysis. The analysis conveys a data-driven understanding of the experience of internally displaced persons, their profiles and vulnerabilities, along the criteria outlined in the International Recommendations on IDP Statistics (IRIS) and the recently developed Proposal for improving data for solutions to internal displacement released under the leadership of the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement.
Highlights from PROGRESS 2024 Report
A key focus in PROGRESS 2024 is the analysis of differences and similarities in solutions intentions between displacement related to conflict, and that related to disasters like floods, drought, storms, or earthquakes. The key findings are based on the analysis from a multi-country dataset with 93,541 household surveys collected in nine countries: Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Iraq, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen.
While there are variations in the intentions based on the cause of displacement, duration of displacement and other factors, the majority of IDPs intend to stay where they are.
Source: PROGRESS
n=85,040
Factors influencing durable solution intentions.
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Most IDPs who cited safety and security (83.7%) intend to stay in their current location.
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IDP households who reported livelihoods and employment as the main factor have more varied durable solution intentions as 48.4% intend to return to their location of origin and 45.5% intend to stay in their current location of displacement.
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The duration of displacement shows that while safety and security remains the most important factor, it becomes less prevalent over time as a higher share of IDP households cite Livelihoods and employment.
Percentage breakdown of durable solution intentions by cause of displacement and perceptions of safety.
n = 25,675
Note: T-tests assess the difference between households that feel safe and those that do not (* p < 0.01) and the difference between households displaced by conflict and those displaced by a disaster (^p < 0.01).
Percentage breakdown of durable solution intentions by sex of head of household and participation in community activities.
| Sex of the head of household | Female-headed HHs (N = 2,336) |
Male-headed HHs (N = 6,961) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in community activities | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Intention | ||||
| Stay (N = 6,760) |
91.2 | 66.6* | 82.3^ | 67.4* |
| Return (N = 1,976) |
6.1 | 24.1* | 13.4^ | 26.3* |
| Relocate (N = 364) |
1.7 | 4.9* | 3.6^ | 4.2 |
| Other (N = 197) |
1.0 | 4.4* | 0.8 | 2.2*^ |
| 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | |
Note: T-tests assess the difference between households that participated in community activities and those that did not participate (* p < 0.01), and the difference between female- and male-headed households (^ p < 0.01).
Voices From Communities
"All of these displacements have always led us to leave our environment in a catastrophic way, leaving behind everything that belongs to us, such as our possessions, our livestock and our fields."
Female IDPs, FGD2 Democratic Republic of the Congo.
As part of the PROGRESS 2024 edition, IOM field teams consulted 463 IDPs through 43 focus group discussions in 5 countries: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Honduras and Nigeria. Focus group discussions captured insights into factors shaping IDPs’ displacement experiences (shelter, livelihoods, education, health), changes in these conditions over time, social ties and future solutions intentions.
"The children don't always go to school, but when there's food at home, they will sure go but because of hunger we all go to work on a farm or collect firewood."
Male IDPs, FGD8 Nigeria
Male IDPs, FGD8 Nigeria
For the majority of IDP households, the impact of displacement was immediate. Upon arrival in their displacement location, IDPs faced challenges with access to shelter and basic services, lack of livelihood opportunities, education and health care. In some cases, IDPs did not feel the effects of displacement until later, when financial resources and assistance decreased, and it became difficult to afford food and basic goods. With time, some IDPs noted that their living conditions improved as they were able to gain access to services and strengthen ties locally with their host communities.
Notably, in all five countries the most persistent challenge over time for most IDP households was economic insecurity. Particularly, the lack of livelihood opportunities in their locations of displacement, including the inability to farm because they could not access land.
"There is somewhat of a social stigma around performing daily wage jobs and so sometimes you don’t want family members or relatives to know your economic situation."
Female IDPs, FGD1 Afghanistan
Female IDPs, FGD1 Afghanistan
Positive relationships with the host community were the main factor influencing some IDPs to stay and integrate in the local community.
In Afghanistan, while most IDPs intended to stay, they mentioned remaining open to the possibility of moving elsewhere if they were guaranteed good economic opportunities, even for those that have lived in the IDP site for more than 10 years.
Some IDPs who intended to stay also mentioned having found a source of livelihood, established a business or having found a place to live.
"During my first forced displacement, I kept hope that I was going to be able to return to my own home and live my life like I did before, like it was just a short-term situation. But the second time I was displaced, I lost everything and I left all hope behind me with my belongings. The armed men did not give us time to take any of our things."
IDP, mixed FGD11 Haiti
IDP, mixed FGD11 Haiti
Over half of focus group participants (54%) were displaced more than once. The perspectives shared by IDPs in the FGDs are congruent with the priority factors in the quantitative analysis. Among IDPs that considered their subsequent displacements as more complicated, there was a high number of mentions of livelihoods, housing and social ties as factors that shaped their current displacement experience compared to the previous one.
Complications with securing a means of livelihood in displacement was the most important factor that impacted other aspects of their lives. More unpredictability was associated with future plans, livelihoods and safety.
"Yes, [we] preferred to go elsewhere because of flooding, there is always danger from any rainfall, currently there is flooding in areas that were not affected previously"
Female IDP, FGD4 Honduras
Female IDP, FGD4 Honduras
The analysis found that positive relationships with the host community were a key factor influencing some IDPs to stay and integrate in the local community, and livelihoods once again emerged as an important factor influencing solutions intentions. In Afghanistan, while most IDPs intended to stay, they mentioned remaining open to the possibility of moving elsewhere if they were guaranteed good economic opportunities, even for those that have lived in the IDP site for more than 10 years.
Environmental factors also influenced decision-making, as IDPs in Honduras with an intention to relocate mentioned that floods are now occurring in areas that were previously not affected. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, IDPs who were displaced due to the rising water levels of Lake Tanganyika noted a preference to stay and build a life in their host community.
While solutions intentions were dependent on individual circumstances including cause of displacement, and varied between and within countries, the common aim expressed by all participants was to obtain safe shelter, a means of livelihood and “no more displacements" (Female IDPs, FGD4 Honduras).
Insights from Migration Governance Indicators Data
Migration Governance Indicators data shows that some countries have made significant progress in establishing legal, policy, and institutional structures to support IDPs.
Source: MGI Database 2024 supplemented with desk research.
The analysis of IDP policies for 33 countries shows progress made in establishing institutional frameworks to address internal displacement and promote durable solutions:
- 27 of 33 countries analysed have adopted at least one law, policy, strategy, or action plan to manage internal displacement.
- 24 of the 27 instruments include provisions for durable solutions, while only 17 make explicit reference to the prevention of new or renewed displacement.
- The analysis highlights the different approaches countries have taken to address internal displacement, with a majority (22) of countries adopting at least one instrument that was IDP-specific while two countries have included provisions in IDP-inclusive instruments.
- A trend towards more balanced and inclusive approaches is evident, with a few countries increasingly recognizing return, local integration, and resettlement as equally viable options to be considered by the displaced population.
- Countries are also showing a commitment to transitioning from consideration of only essential short-term humanitarian efforts towards more comprehensive approaches aimed at achieving sustainable long-term outcomes.
PROGRESS Annual Cycle
The second edition of the PROGRESS report builds on findings from the first edition and follows a series of operational adjustments conducted in 2024 to collect solutions-specific data across a variety of country contexts. This cycle of operational adjustments included the roll-out of new tools such as the Displacement and Demographic calculator to collect granular IDP demographic data alongside displacement history information including cause of displacement and in some contexts, the durable solution intentions. Adjustments to mobility tracking questionnaires were also done to further align population categories with the International Recommendations on IDP Statistics (IRIS) and Data for Solutions to Internal Displacement (DSID) Working Group and to collect information on IDP returnee displacement history.
Government and Partner contributions
As an operational report employing a consultative process, IOM’s Periodic Global Report on the State of Solutions to Internal Displacement (PROGRESS) reflects the diversity of actors working on durable solutions to internal displacement. The analysis presented in this report illustrates that resolving displacement is a challenge requiring work across the humanitarian-development and peace nexus. In line with this, actors with a range of expertise and roles across this nexus must be involved in defining what actionable data looks like.
A sample of these actors have contributed their unique perspectives on data for durable solutions through the lens of their technical areas of expertise. These areas include national statistics and censuses, food security and agricultural livelihoods, child protection, and data collection on internal displacement. Their contributions highlight the multifaceted ways in which data can have a tangible impact on achieving lasting solutions for displaced populations and addressing vulnerabilities associated with protracted displacement.
PROGRESS 2023
The IOM’s Global Data Institute (GDI) and Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of International Migration (ISIM) collaborated to create the first Periodic Global Report on the State of Solutions to Internal Displacement (PROGRESS). This analysis of primary data collected in 15 countries selected as pilots for the UN Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, offers people-centered and operationally-relevant insights to expand the evidence base about interventions that contribute to helping displaced communities find solutions and pathways out of displacement.