IOM, UNDP, UNHCR, welcome growing investment in long-term solutions to internal displacement

The International Organisation for Migration, IOM, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have welcomed the growing investment in long-term solutions to internal displacement.

A new report from the Internal Displacement Solutions Fund (IDSF) shows that government-led commitments are advancing solutions to internal displacement and translating into tangible results.

The Fund, established by the United Nations Global Solutions Hub, supported 10 joint programmes with catalytic investments of up to USD 3 million each in 2025. These efforts helped unlock approximately USD 2.5 billion in national budget allocations for the protection of and solutions for internally displaced people, and mobilized more than USD 850 million in development finance. 

The report shows that targeted investments are helping strengthen public systems and expand access to housing, land, livelihoods, and basic services for both displaced people and host communities.

“The evidence is clear: when we invest in systems that help people rebuild their lives, displacement becomes more manageable and communities grow stronger,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations. “The challenge now is to scale this approach by aligning funding, policies, and partnerships so progress leads to lasting change.”

“Internal displacement is not only a humanitarian challenge; it is a development and governance priority. The IDSF is helping governments embed solutions into national plans and unlock much larger sources of financing. Together with international financial institutions and the private sector, we now have an opportunity to scale nationally led solutions that deliver lasting stability and opportunity,” said Shoko Noda, UNDP Crisis Bureau Director.

“Over 10 million internally displaced people returned home in 2025 – the highest level in years – showing that solutions are possible when governments, communities and partners come together. Yet many returns remain fragile, underscoring the importance of the IDSF, and sustained investment in national systems and self-reliance to ensure lasting and dignified solutions to end the cycle of displacement,” said Raouf Mazou, UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations.

Programmes supported by the Fund have helped allocate nearly 98,000 hectares of land for housing, livelihoods, and local integration. They have also enabled more than 200,000 displaced people to obtain legal documentation, improving access to services, employment and public support. The Fund also demonstrates strong leverage, mobilizing an estimated USD 168 from development actors for every USD 1 invested.

Despite progress, the report notes that results remain uneven. Many countries continue to face new or ongoing displacement, insecurity, and limited resources. While policy frameworks and coordination mechanisms are improving, stable, predictable financing is still lacking.

Looking ahead, the report calls for stronger alignment between development financing and national strategies, deeper engagement with international financial institutions and the private sector, and more inclusive approaches that ensure displaced people are involved in decisions that affect them.