Breaking the impasse

This study presents evidence that protracted internal displacement is primarily a development and political challenge with humanitarian elements. Displacement-affected countries will not be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals—including critical goals on poverty, education and gender equality—without addressing protracted internal displacement. According to the authors, a new approach is needed to address both the short- and long-term needs of IDPs and host communities. Governments, development and humanitarian actors and donors must work together to achieve context-specific, clear and measurable collective outcomes that reduce vulnerabilities and support solutions to protracted internal displacement. The proposed approach echoes many of the key elements put forward in the New Way of Working, which calls for the pursuit of collective outcomes that reduce needs, risk and vulnerability.