Background

The search for durable solutions to the protracted displacement situation in East Africa and the Horn of Africa is a critical humanitarian and development concern. Displacement is a regional/cross-border issue with a strong political dimension, demanding a multi-sector response beyond the existing humanitarian agenda.

 

The Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS) was created in 2015 to maintain focused momentum and stakeholder engagement towards durable solutions for displacement-affected communities in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. ReDSS comprises 14 NGOs: Action against Hunger (French: Action Contre La Faim – ACF), ACTED, CARE International, Concern Worldwide, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), INTERSOS, Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Oxfam, the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK), Save the Children, World Vision, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). DRC, IRC, and NRC form the ReDSS steering committee.

 

ReDSS seeks to improve joint learning and programming, inform policy processes, enhance capacity development and facilitate coordination in the collective search for durable solutions. It is a coordination and information hub that acts as a catalyst and agent provocateur to stimulate forward-thinking and policy development on durable solutions for displacement.

Overall goals and objectives

ReDSS’s goal is to improve programming and policy to support durable solutions for displacement affected communities in East and Horn of Africa. ReDSS has identified four main pillars as core focus areas to realise this goal. They include:

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    Research and analysis

    To support a collective research agenda and increase use of research and analysis to inform durable solutions policy and programming

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    Capacity development

    To strengthen capacity, collective monitoring and learning on durable solutions and leverage members’ expertise

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    Policy dialogue

    To bring members and partners together to learn and coordinate on research, policy and practice on durable solutions

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    Coordination

    To bring members and partners together to learn and coordinate on research, policy and practice on durable solutions

Key figures on displacement in the region

13.1 million

Total number of estimated displaced people

4.4 million

Total number of estimated refugees

8.7 million

Total number of estimated internally displaced people

Sources of Figures