Managing humanitarian reform and displacement: the crisis in international cooperation and the implications for social protection

The paper places the need for a landmark change in approach for solutions towards displacement in the context of the ongoing and deepening crisis in international cooperation and humanitarian affairs. it suggests a fundamental shift from humanitarian actors and programmes, still major drivers for solutions, to true national ownership and -leadership, and investigates salient social protection implications of such a shift. The analysis, whilst acknowledging historical efforts towards a broader and more developmental approach, concludes that current efforts on establishing local and national ownership for displacement solutions are still largely externally driven and formulated as an “exit” rather than “entry strategy”. In spite of some encouraging signs of shift in focus and language due to the Secretary-General’s High Level Panel Report on Internal Displacement, the authors point out that the translation of these policy changes into operational action has still largely been assumed by external (and predominantly UN) stakeholders.

The recent advisory ruling of the ICJ (23/07/25), confirming the importance of not just acknowledging, but also enforcing the responsibility of countries towards climate change action, is presented as somewhat of a lifeline for climate change impacted countries. Furthermore, the promotion of nationally owned social protection systems can provide a strong basis and, indeed, realistic starting point for sustainable interventions in contexts where climate-induced displacement occurs.

The paper argues that a recalibrated development-focused social protection response framework requires a reconceptualization of the traditional social risk approach, reflecting an appreciation of the magnitude, scope, type, duration and spatial distribution of social protection needs, including associated economic and environmental risks. The response framework should be sensitive to the reality of the displacement context and be flexible to employ varied responses, considering among others whether the sojourn in the country/place of destination is temporary or protracted. Innovation may be called for to link non-contributory humanitarian interventions to graduated longer-term, including self-sustaining interventions, and to provide a pathway for vulnerable displaced migrants to enter the labour market and hence participate in contributory social security schemes.