Two Years of Progress on UN Chief’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement

The Action Agenda emerged from the High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement, requested by 57 member states, and marked a shift in approach.

Two years after the launch of the UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, significant strides have been made toward its vision and objectives. As members of the UN Steering Group on Solutions to Internal Displacement, we are committed to building on this momentum. However, internal displacement remains a pressing issue requiring urgent attention, with almost 76 million people currently internally displaced worldwide.

The Action Agenda emerged from the High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement, requested by 57 member states, and marked a shift in approach. It emphasized solutions to internal displacement as a development priority, with national ownership being critical. The Agenda called for the greater engagement of development, peace, and climate actors. To coordinate this effort, the Secretary-General appointed a Special Adviser on Solutions to Internal Displacement.

Two years in, notable progress is evident, especially in government leadership. National and local authorities in 15 affected pilot countries have shown a strong commitment to finding solutions to internal displacement. The focus has been on whole-of-society and people-centered processes, ensuring that displaced individuals have a say in determining their futures. New Government-owned displacement solutions strategies, rooted in development approaches, have emerged. The Governments of Nigeria, Iraq, Somalia, Colombia, Libya, and Ethiopia (Somali Region) have committed to placing 8.5 million internally displaced persons and recent returnees on solutions pathways. Moving forward, we will continue to support Governments in designing and implementing these pathways while upholding international human rights standards.

Internal displacement is now more visible on international development and peace agendas. It was included in the World Bank corporate results scorecard for the first time and featured at the World Bank Fragility Forum in 2024. At COP28, internal displacement was a prominent topic, and the historic Loss and Damages Fund now includes displacement in its scope of operationalization.

Within the UN, resources to support Governments in their solutions work have been strengthened. A UN Solutions Fund has been established to provide catalytic funding for Government solutions efforts. In pilot countries, UN agencies, guided by Resident Coordinators, have collectively supported Governments. The IASC Review of the humanitarian response to internal displacement has been completed, leading to measures that improve assistance to and protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and facilitate more coherent action between humanitarian and development actors.

Despite these advances, much remains to be done. Internal displacement figures continue to break records; there were 59 million internally displaced individuals when the Action Agenda was launched, and today there are nearly 76 million. At the end of 2023, Sudan had 9.1 million displaced people, the highest number ever recorded in one country. Stepped-up action on prevention is critical to reverse this trend and ensure that internal displacement is more firmly anchored in the final push to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A dedicated forum for Member States and other key stakeholders to hold ongoing dialogue on internal displacement and drive joint priorities is still needed. Additionally, development financing, of the type and scale required to realize solutions on the ground, remains unmet.