Addressing disaster-related internal displacement through participatory initiatives

One of the most severe consequences of disasters on people's lives is displacement. When their homes or places of habitual residence are too badly damaged, and their support networks or socioeconomic resources do not allow them to repair and stay in disaster-affected areas, they are forced to leave their homes temporarily or forever. In disaster risk reduction practice, it is therefore essential to take displacement in consideration and incorporate measures to prevent it, or mitigate it as much as possible. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), which has been recognized by the United Nations as a key provider of data on internal displacement at the global level, started documenting promising and successful initiatives that have managed to do so in various countries and disaster contexts. One of the main takeaways from this research is that participatory approaches that involve affected communities tend to be much more impactful and sustainable than others. From drought-affected communities in sub-Saharan Africa to urban settlements repeatedly ravaged by Monsoon floods in Asia, this brief practitioner article presents selected case studies to show how participation can contribute to overcoming some of the most frequent challenges of prevention and response to disaster displacement around the world.