Researching Internal Displacement
Internal Displacement Research Programme
Each year, of the tens of millions of people who flee their homes due to wars or disasters, the vast majority remain displaced within their own countries. This crisis of ‘internal displacement’ imposes extraordinary costs on individuals and societies, exacerbated during this decade by escalating global political instability and climate change. The pernicious challenges posed by internal displacement need new solutions and innovative thinking.
Despite raising far-reaching theoretical and practical questions for key contemporary debates around aid, development, migration, sovereignty, rights, citizenship, identity and societal change, knowledge of this issue is highly fragmented and dispersed across both academic and policy circles.
Established in 2019, the Internal Displacement Research Programme (IDRP) is presently the only academic programme in the world working exclusively on internal displacement. It consolidates a longstanding line of research at the RLI by promoting and facilitating wider research on internal displacement, including but not limited to policy-relevant research aims to:
- Raise the profile of research on internal displacement in academic and practitioner circles
- Support, disseminate and share current and ongoing work by researchers in this field
- Connect research in this field with that in cognate areas, including refugee studies
- Bring new researchers to the field and develop new cross- and inter-disciplinary work
- Promote and support research capacity in countries affected by internal displacement
Research outputs
Researching Internal Displacement
The Researching Internal Displacement open access platform provides a space for publishing topical and high-quality independent research and policy briefings, as well as artistic productions, on internal displacement. Working Papers are prominently displayed as a resource for scholars and practitioners worldwide. Papers are submitted in English, French, Spanish or Arabic. Since its launch in 2022, 70 short pieces and over 50 working papers and scoping studies have been published so far – with many authors coming from developing countries. Click here to view an additional selection of relevant publications.
Conference
The RLI and the Internal Displacement Research Programme, in conjunction with the United Nations Office of the Special Advisor on Solutions to Internal Displacement, held its first ever conference on International Displacement and Solutions in March 2024. This international event consisted of 12 panels of expert speakers and 100s of online participants over two days. In 2020, the IDRP launched a research collaboration with the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Internal Displacement. In 2018, the RLI organised a workshop on ‘“Revitalising the IDP Field”: 20 Years of the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement’.
Further initiatives run through the programme
Networks
The IDRP Research Affiliate and Senior Research Associate networks bring together established global research specialists in this field.
The IDRP also hosts the INDCaP project that created Researching Internal Displacement and works to support the regional networks:
- GENIDA - Global Network on Internal Displacement In Africa
- LANID - Latin American Network on Internal Displacement
- MERNID - Middle East Research Network on Internal Displacement
There is also now the Health and Internal Displacement Network (HIDN), which retains a disciplinary orientation.
These networks have a core membership of 80 researchers, particularly from developing countries, develop research events, resources and publications.
Training
Our free online training course on Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection, is available on Coursera, and provides a comprehensive introduction to the key issues surrounding internal displacement. Since its launch in 2021, almost 8,000 learners globally have enrolled (rated 4.9/5 stars).
The Future of the IDRP and Getting Involved
The Internal Displacement Research Programme will continue to grow over the next few years, with the issue of internal displacement becoming more and more prominent given the increases of conflict and violence seen in specific regions, and the growing threat of climate-induced displacement present globally.
If you are interested in issues related to internal displacement, do engage with our blog, working paper series, and podcasts. Also consider joining our ever-expanding network of researchers, academics and practitioners, and attend our regular seminars and conferences.
