Peace and Recovery from Crises

Humanitarian action alone cannot address the mobility dimensions of a crisis. People displaced by a typhoon need longer term solutions in terms of housing, access to school, health services, work, etc.

Crises, human-made and natural disasters, also have long-term consequences on communities. They negatively impact development progresses and governance structures, contributing to the fragility of States. This increases the human and material cost of crises as well as their response. Over the past decades, IOM developed institutional capacity in transition and recovery programming building on development principles to address displacement situations and other mobility issues.

IOM’s transition and recovery work complements humanitarian interventions to foster effective, sustainable recovery and development in crisis and posts-crisis contexts. IOM works closely with local and international counterparts in the efforts to re-establish essential socioeconomic and governance structures, rebuild infrastructures and livelihoods, mitigate conflict, build resilience to shocks and minimize risks of future crises.

Successful recovery ultimately may prevent further forced displacement, promotes durable solutions and provides the foundation for sustainable development.

Reducing the socio-economic and political impacts of crises can contribute to reduce forced and irregular migration. To achieve that, IOM works towards strengthening democratic institutions by supporting election processes as a fundamental component of democracy, human rights and conflict prevention.

Within this framework, IOM also includes its activities on providing access to voting to the diaspora, supporting the EU Election Observation Missions in countries outside the European Union and assisting governments in the enfranchisement of internally displaced groups.

Transition programmes provide assistance to governments, States and communities undergoing socioeconomic and political changes during and following a crisis. These programmes seek to:

• (Re-)establish stability and security;
• Prevent further forced migration;
• Restore trust among community members, vulnerable populations and local authorities; and
• Lay the foundations for durable solutions, lasting peace and sustainable development.

IOM implemented transition initiatives start early in crisis contexts to address migration drivers and to mitigate or prevent further displacement and irregular migration. Transition initiatives can also include specialized measures around the reintegration of former combatants, security sector reform, electoral support and peace-building where the context demands such support.

Effective transition initiatives thus contribute to IOM’s commitment to prevention and progressive solutions to complex migration and displacement challenges.