International Network for Economics and Conflict

This posting was written by Michelle Swearingen, Moderator of the International Network for Economics and Conflict and pulls heavily from the UNHCR report, Uprooted and Unrestored: A comparative review of durable solutions for people displaced by conflict in Colombia and Liberia

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates that in 2011 there were nearly 40 million refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) around the world.  These populations have often been ignored, mistreated or targeted for violence and recruitment.  In many situations, failure to adequately address the needs of these populations has sparked or prolongs conflict.

An analysis of programs for IDPs in Colombia and Liberia highlights the need for a two-pronged approach to reaching durable solutions for displaced populations.  Solutions must address the root causes of displacement and provide ‘victim-centered’ care for affected individuals or groups.

According to the report the Liberian approach has managed to focus on addressing the root causes of the conflict, it failed to create a ‘victim-centered’ approach to meet the needs of the victims and help them to find appropriate and lasting solutions.  Colombia, on the other hand, has succeeded in meeting the immediate and intermediate needs of the displaced but has failed to address the core reasons for their displacement, namely: poverty, pronounced inequality, impunity, corruption and persistent violent conflict.

Crafting an approach that sufficiently incorporates both the immediate needs of the displaced and also the larger issues underpinning the conflict is no easy task. To help us in this endeavor, we can take lessons from the experiences in Colombia and Liberia. 

Considerations for a Victim-Centered Approach

• Meet people where they are.  It is often the case that people who have been displaced do not wish to return to their homes.  They often wish to create new lives in new places, usually in larger towns or cities.  Although there are specific challenges to the resettlement of large groups in cities (where services and infrastructure are already strained), every effort should be taken to respect the wishes of displaced persons in the design and implementation of reintegration programs.  Cities offer increased access to education, health services and economic opportunities.  It is important to make investments in smaller cities and towns that could absorb new populations more easily than already overcrowded, large cities.   
• Not so fast.  Although many international programs do good work and lay a foundation for integration, many are often concluded before full integration has been achieved.  This leaves many potential beneficiaries underserved and disillusioned; particularly when humanitarian needs are still acute.  A victim-centered approach will necessitate a long view, with more sustained and deeper investment.

Addressing the Root Causes of Displacement

• Contributing factors to displacement can include such behemoth problems as poverty, inequality, corruption and of course the resulting conflict.  Obviously, solving any one of these problems is much easier said than done.  However, the enormity of the task should not preclude consideration.  Addressing the root causes of displacement and conflict should be deeply integrated into any framework for reaching durable solutions for displaced individuals.  This will require coordination between government ministries, international organizations and development agencies to ensure that roads, schools and health facilities are built; requirements for agricultural production are met; and land rights are restored.
• This generally involves increasing economic opportunity and prioritizing broad-based economic development.  These efforts should take care to incorporate those “who have been socially, economically and politically excluded as a result of conflict and displacement.  Furthermore, as the Colombians have insisted, displacement persists until victims recover their livelihoods, recuperate or are compensated for their losses, are secure and have seen some transitional justice on their behalf.  This implies enforcing human rights and removing impunity from the perpetrators of human rights violations.”
• The youth should be viewed as an asset, not a liability.  Programs for young people and former fighters should include education, training and other forms of investment.  They should be designed with the goal of quick reintegration in order to avoid further alienation and should incorporate the needs of their families which are often the most significant stabilizing force in the lives of young people.

One of the few commonalities between Colombia and Liberia is their inability to resolve the hardships facing their still sizable displaced populations.  This is something they share with many conflict-affected states worldwide, highlighting the need for reform of the way we address and assess the integration of displaced populations, a vital constituency.  By better targeting humanitarian and development dollars, we can meet the immediate needs of displaced populations while also contributing to the stabilization of the country.