1. Introduction to Frameworks and
Approaches for Refugees and Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Module 1.3
Benjamin Petrini
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2. Learning Objectives
Gain overview of (re)integration of refugees and
Internally Displaced Persons’ frameworks,
programmes, and approaches. Outline of specific issues
in protracted situations, in host countries.
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3. Outline
• Definitions
• Trends and Data
• Impacts of Forced Displacement
• Frameworks and Approaches: Durable Solutions
• Development Challenge
• Key Resources
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4. • Forced displacement: Experience of being forced or
obliged to flee or leave homes or places of habitual
residence in order to avoid the effects (or fear) of
armed conflict, situations of generalised violence, or
violations of human rights.
• No environmental / natural disaster displacement, no
economic migration (although sometimes hard to
distinguish).
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Definitions

5. Definitions (cont.)
• Refugee: Someone who “owing to a well-founded fear
of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion,
nationality, membership of a particular social group or
political opinion, is outside the country of his
nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is
unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that
country; or who, not having a nationality and being
outside the country of his former habitual residence as
a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear,
is unwilling to return to.” (UNHCR 1951 Refugee
Convention, Art. 1A(2)).
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6. Definitions (cont.)
• Internally Displaced Person (IDP): Those who “have
been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their
homes or places of habitual residence, in particular
as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of
armed conflict, situations of generalised violence,
violations of human rights or natural or human-made
disasters, and who have not crossed an
internationally recognised state border.” (UN
Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement).
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7. Definitions (cont.)
• Protracted displacement: Situations which have
moved beyond the initial emergency phase (in terms
of time and dynamics), but for which durable
solutions do not exist in the foreseeable future.
• Threshold: More than 25,000 people are forcibly
displaced for more than 5 years. (UNHCR def.)
• According to this definition 6.2m refugees in 2004,
7.2m in 2010, 10.3m in 2013.
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8. Trends and Data (end of 2013)
8SOURCE: UNHCR. Global Trends 2013: War’s Human Cost
(1989)
Most displaced people are in
a protracted situation.

9. Forced Displacement Trends
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SOURCE: IDMC Website

10. Trends: IDPs
• With 8.2m new IDPs, 2013 is worst year ever
• 33.3m total IDPs in 2013 - highest ever
• Largest crises and regional breakdown:
– 63% of total IDPs are from 5 countries: Syria, Colombia, Nigeria,
DRC, Sudan. (Iraq has 2.9m IDPs, as of Oct. 2014).
– Sub-Saharan Africa - 12.5m (Great Lakes Region, Horn of Africa)
– Middle East & North Africa - 9.1m (Syria, Iraq, Libya)
– Europe, Caucasus & Central Asia - 2.2m (Turkey, BiH, Cyprus)
– South & East Asia - 3.2m (India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar)
– Latin America - 6m (Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras)
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11. SOURCE: IDMC. Global Overview 2014

12. 12SOURCE: De Berry & Petrini. Forced Displacement in Europe
and Central Asia. World Bank, 2011
Forced Displacement in ECA

13. Trends: Refugees
• 2.5m new refugees in 2013- highest since 1994.
• 16.7m total refugees in 2013 - highest since 1995.
• Top origins (2013): 66.7% of total refugees are from Palestine (5m)
Afghanistan (2.56m), Syria (2.47m) & Somalia (1.12m).
• Top hosts (2013): Pakistan (1.6m), Iran (0.86m). Syria crisis (Oct
2014): Turkey (1.1m), Lebanon (1.1m), Jordan (0.6m).
• Regional breakdown (host countries):
– Sub-Saharan Africa - 2.9m (Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Chad)
– Middle East and North Africa - 7.6m (Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq)
– Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia - 1.8m (Turkey, France, Germany)
– Asia & Pacific - 3.5m (Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh)
– Latin America - 0.8m (USA, Venezuela)
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14. 14
Syrian Refugees
SOURCE: UNHCR. Syrian Refugees: Inter-Agency
Regional Update. Oct 20, 2014

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16. 16

17. Impacts of Forced Displacement
• Forced displacement is a humanitarian crisis, with important political
and developmental dimensions
• In fragile and conflict affected countries, displacement puts added
strain on weak national and local institutions
• Displacement can be a breeding ground for grievances leading to
conflict, crime, violence, and political instability
• Displacement has negative developmental impacts on human and
social capital, economic growth, poverty reduction, MDGs, and
environmental sustainability
• The negative impacts of displacement may be less pronounced
where the displaced are able to develop their skills and use their
coping mechanisms to their own and the host community’s benefit

18. Durable Solutions
• Founding principle of the refugee regime
• Permanent, lasting or durable solutions are part of
UNHCR’s core mandate
• Def.: Processes through which to achieve the point
at which the displaced no longer require specific
assistance or protection associated with their
displacement and can enjoy their human rights
(IASC Framework)
• Common feature: reconnecting to a state and
benefiting from its protection
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19. Key Principles for Solutions
• National authorities bear responsibility
• International actors to be granted access
• Displaced to freely decide which solution to pursue
• Return can be postponed if unobtainable
• State protection and restoration of rights
• Host communities’ needs not to be neglected
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20. 1. Return
• Voluntary repatriation of refugees to their country of origin:
– Free and informed decision
– In and to conditions of safety and dignity
– Full restoration of national protection
– Followed by sustainable reintegration
• Sustainable return dependent on conflict resolution and
contextual challenges addressed (economy, security etc.)
• 1990s mass returns took place: Cambodia (365k), C. America
(150k), Mozambique (1.7m)
• UNHCR “most preferred solution” (UNHCR Excom 1996)
• Steady decline in repatriation since 2004 (⅕ of 1990s levels)
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21. 2. Local Integration
• Gradual process by which refugees legally,
economically, socially and culturally integrate as fully
included members of country of asylum
• De facto local integration may occur without an
institutional formal process
• Local integration is durable if all parties commit:
displaced, host communities, governments
• E.g. 162,000 Burundian refugees in Tanzania granted
naturalisation (2014)
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22. 3. Resettlement
• Resettlement from country of asylum to a third country,
which accepts to provide the displaced with legal and
physical protection:
– Access to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights
similar to those enjoyed by nationals.
– Leading to naturalisation.
• 2013: 98,400 refugees resettled in 21 countries
• Demand always exceeds supply
• E.g. In 1990s, Cairo (Egypt) was primary destination for
refugees due to UNHCR large resettlement programme
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23. Criteria for DSs sustainability
1. Long-term safety and security
2. Adequate standard of living
3. Access to employment and livelihood
4. Restoration of housing, land, and property
5. Access to documentation
6. Family reunification
7. Participation in public affairs
8. Access to justice (IASC Framework)
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24. Need for a Development Lens
• In order for “solutions” to be “durable”, a
development focus is needed, addressing displaced +
host communities
• UNHCR and humanitarian actors alone not equipped to
address long-term (re)integration
• UNHCR and other actors pursuing comprehensive
approaches to solutions: e.g. Transitional Solutions
Initiatives (TSI); targeted area development
programmes
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25. Development Challenge 1/4
• During displacement, development challenges include
promoting conducive conditions early on in preparation for
solutions, by:
– Promoting maximum level of self-reliance, building &
maintaining skills
– Promoting integration and mutually beneficial collaboration with
host communities and local economies
– Guaranteeing information & application of displacement-related
rights
• If the development challenges during displacement are
properly addressed, the displaced could develop and/or retain
their livelihood capacities, contribute to the local economy and
be better able to take advantage of durable solutions when
they arise

26. • Displaced people may have positive contribution to host
communities and local economies, including:
– Expanded local markets for goods and services,
resulting in income benefits for host community
– Increased value of agricultural production by provision
of cheaper labour
– Business development and trade
– Infrastructure investment
Development Challenge 2/4

27. • Or negative:
– Distortion of labour market ( Declining salary
levels for unskilled labour)
– Distortion of housing market ( Rising rental fees)
– Competition over access to resources and services
– Strained relations between the host population and
the displaced, resulting from preferential treatment
toward the displaced
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Development Challenge 3/4

28. There are four key developmental barriers to achieve
durable solutions for the displaced :
•Access to lost land, housing and property
Resolution of land, housing, and property disputes.
•Restoration of livelihoods
Income generating activities, access to markets.
•Delivery of services
Health care, education, psycho-social services,
security.
•Accountable and responsive governance
Voice and participation, involvement in local
Development Challenge 4/4

29. Solutions
(return/integration/resettlement)
+
Addressing Development Challenges through
Comprehensive Approaches
=
Durable Solutions
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30. Key Resources
• IASC Framework on Durable Solutions for IDPs
• UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
• UNHCR/UNDP Transitional Solutions Initiative (TSI)
• World Bank’s Global Programme on Forced
Displacement (GPFD)
• Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement
• Solutions Alliance
• Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
• Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
• Refugee Studies Centre – University of Oxford
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31. Thank you for listening!
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