EU humanitarian aid also targets IDPs in Syria, Nigeria, South Sudan, Iraq, Ethiopia and Yemen, among others.
In April 2016, the European Commission adopted the Communication 'Lives in Dignity: from Aid-dependence to Self-reliance. Forced Displacement and Development', presenting a development-led approach to forced displacement.
The objective is to strengthen the resilience and self-reliance of both the displaced and their host communities, working with host governments and local actors to support the gradual socio-economic inclusion of refugees and IDPs.
The approach aims to harness the productive capacities of refugees and IDPs by helping them access education, health care, housing, land, livelihood support, legal protection, and other basic services.
The EU also funds partners (including Norwegian Refugee Council and Danish Refugee Council) to support people in mixed migration settings such as in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. These partners help strengthen community protection networks (composed of IDPs and representatives from host communities) and local legal providers.
Partnerships and policy
The Commission channels its financial support to forced displacement situations through organisations dealing with refugees, IDPs, migrants and host communities on the ground. Its main humanitarian partners include the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, and non-governmental organisations.
To ensure a more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing among states, the EU supports the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees. Adopted in 2018, the Global Compact builds on the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), which in 2017 and 2018 was rolled out in several countries for greater support to refugees and host countries.
The EU strongly supports the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, and systematically promotes the inclusion of these principles in international and national law.
In addition, the EU supported the work of the United Nations Secretary-General’s (UNSG) High Level Panel on Internal Displacement, which submitted its recommendations in September 2021, and resulted in the launch in June 2022 of the UNSG Action Agenda on Internal Displacement.
On 1st July 2022, the EU took over the Presidency of the Platform on Disaster Displacement. This is a state-led initiative working towards better protection for people displaced across borders in the context of disasters and climate change.
As part of its 18-month presidency, the EU seeks to strengthen coordinated actions in this area, as well as to increase global advocacy on this topic.
Last updated: 12/07/2023
The European Union's humanitarian aid strategies and initiatives, particularly concerning forced displacement, host communities, and refugees, reflect a multi-faceted approach rooted in sustainable development principles. This comprehensive approach aims to address the needs of displaced populations across various regions while fostering resilience and self-reliance.
Let's break down the concepts and entities mentioned in the article:
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Forced Displacement and Development: The European Commission adopted the Communication 'Lives in Dignity: from Aid-dependence to Self-reliance. Forced Displacement and Development' in April 2016, presenting a development-focused strategy toward forced displacement. This strategy aims to shift from a dependency model to empowering displaced individuals and their host communities through economic and social inclusion.
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Refugees and IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons): The objective is to strengthen the resilience and self-reliance of both refugees and IDPs. The focus is on socio-economic inclusion by providing access to education, healthcare, housing, livelihood support, legal protection, and basic services.
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Partnerships with Organizations: The EU funds various partners, including the Norwegian Refugee Council and Danish Refugee Council, to work in mixed migration settings like Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. These partnerships aim to strengthen community protection networks, comprising IDPs and representatives from host communities, and local legal providers.
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Financial Support and Humanitarian Partners: The EU channels financial support through organizations dealing with refugees, IDPs, migrants, and host communities. Key partners include UNHCR, IOM, Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, and non-governmental organizations.
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Global Compact on Refugees: The EU supports the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees, focusing on equitable responsibility-sharing among states. It builds on the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) to enhance support for refugees and host countries.
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Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement: The EU strongly supports these principles and advocates for their inclusion in international and national law.
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UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement: The EU backed this initiative and supported the resulting UNSG Action Agenda on Internal Displacement in June 2022.
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Platform on Disaster Displacement: The EU assumed the Presidency of the Platform on Disaster Displacement in July 2022. This state-led initiative aims to enhance protection for people displaced across borders due to disasters and climate change. During its 18-month presidency, the EU focuses on coordinated actions and global advocacy on this issue.
The EU's involvement spans diverse areas, including policy advocacy, financial support, partnerships, and promoting legal frameworks to address the complex challenges faced by displaced populations globally.
