RESEARCHING INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT

Researching Internal Displacement connects researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, students, artists and people from displacement-affected communities with cutting-edge research, analysis, creative materials and other resources on internal displacement. It aims to raise the profile and understanding of internal displacement and the situations faced by IDPs globally.

El Salvador. Climate change in La Danta Mocha 2024 © UNHCR/Markel Redondo

Researching Internal Displacement is also a central hub for linked international research networks on internal displacement: Internal Displacement Research Programme (IDRP); Global Engagement Network on Internal Displacement in Africa (GENIDA); Middle East Research Network on Internal Displacement (MERNID); Latin American Network on Internal Displacement (LANID); and the Health and Internal Displacement Network (HIDN).

The site provides the networks with a shared webspace and facilitates sharing, reviewing and disseminating the latest research, writing and creative materials by their membership and by others interested in internal displacement. Each network is open to new members and promotes engagement with different aspects of internal displacement research, particularly by people living in countries affected by internal displacement. All networks host regular events, promote research and publication, and feed into policy and practice

Researching Internal Displacement is an independent site managed by the leads of each network working jointly with the editors on the website Coordination Team.

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

By Igor Paulo Ubisse Capitine, Álvaro Marcela Manhiça, Willy Susse de Jesus Monjane, Ivan da Costa Tomás Jr and Paulo Salvador da Silva Tembe Jr | Apr 21, 2026
As global humanitarian funding declines and nationalist agendas gain prominence, internally displaced populations (IDPs) face growing health and social risks. Using Mozambique as a central case, this eighth paper in our series on ‘Internal Displacement in a Changing World Order’ examines how shifting political and financial dynamics are reshaping the social determinants of health for IDPs in contexts of recurrent displacement. In Mozambique, where conflict, climate-related hazards, and structural poverty make displacement predictable rather than exceptional, humanitarian assistance has been critical in saving lives but remains predominantly short-term and crisis-driven, failing to address the structural drivers of displacement, leaving many exposed to cumulative health and social vulnerability once emergency responses subside. The paper argues for a transition toward resilient, nationally led systems that integrate IDPs into inclusive health, social protection, and climate adaptation agendas, reframing displacement as a core health equity and development challenge rather than a temporary humanitarian concern.
By Tomy Ncube and Una Murray | Mar 12, 2026
As climate impacts intensify, planned relocation is increasingly deployed as an adaptation strategy, yet outcomes for relocated communities remain consistently adverse. This paper argues that these failures stem from the treatment of planned relocation as a short-term, projectised disaster response rather than as a long-term developmental intervention. Drawing on social protection theory, this paper reconceptualises planned relocation as a form of social assistance, capable of delivering durable solutions. It demonstrates that planned relocation inherently performs preventive, protective, promotive, and potentially transformative social protection functions by minimising future climate risks, providing non-contributory transfers such as land and housing, and enabling livelihood reconstruction. However, when implemented outside formal social protection systems, these functions may collapse, often resulting in impoverishment and protracted displacement.

Our Funders

This platform was established with support from the UK Research
and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund (AH/T005351/1).

IDP TRAINING

Our free course in ‘Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection’

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IDRP

Internal Displacement Research Programme

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HIDN

Health and Internal Displacement Network

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GENIDA

Global Engagement
Network on Internal Displacement in Africa

Find out more

LANID

Latin American Network on Internal Displacement

Find out more

MERNID

Middle East Research Network on Internal Displacement

Find out more

IDP TRAINING

Our free course in ‘Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection’

Find out more

IDRP

Internal Displacement Research Programme

Find out more

HIDN

Health and Internal Displacement Network

Find out more

GENIDA

Global Engagement
Network on Internal Displacement in Africa

Find out more

LANID

Latin American Network on Internal Displacement

Find out more

MERNID

Middle East Research Network on Internal Displacement

Find out more