Might this be a game-changer in terms of providing solutions to the global crisis of displacement?
We certainly hope so. But, for any of you for whom the term ‘internal displacement’ is new – what does it mean? And why have we decided now to create a website to promote independent analysis of this topic, as the Panel recommends?
So what is ‘internal displacement’? And who are these so-called ‘internally displaced persons’? Well, you can find a brief introduction to these concepts in a dedicated section of the newly-launched Researching Internal Displacement website – called ‘What is Internal Displacement?’.
A few facts may help explain why we think this topic is sufficiently important to merit its own website dedicated to independent analysis. Firstly, although internal displacement may be a relatively ‘hidden’ crisis, its human and development impact is vast. In the world today, there are an estimated 48 million IDPs who have fled conflict or violence. By contrast, there are 26 million refugees.
Secondly, IDPs tend to be among the poorest people in their country – often too poor to cross a border. This is hardly surprising, given the loss of access to homes, land, property, livelihoods and local social support structures that IDPs experience, as well as the relatively modest levels of humanitarian aid available to them. And it inevitably affects other living standards. On health, for instance, they tend to suffer significantly higher levels of death and disease than other conflict-affected populations. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic struck….
In short, forcible displacement of people within their own countries poses humanitarian and development challenges of epidemic proportions in today’s world. Have you have ever wanted to better understand these issues? And do you want to engage with key research and debates about the protection of these ‘IDPs’ or solutions to their plight?
If so, then the new research training module that we launched this week to coincide with the UN High-Level Panel report on internal displacement is tailor-made for you!
This free online training course on ‘Internal Displacement, Conflict and Protection’, developed by our networks and available on Coursera, provides a comprehensive introduction to the key issues surrounding internal displacement. Over the course of six weekly sessions, this course places you at the centre of an open-access online learning experience through engagement with a range of robust and challenging activities, materials and peer discussions.
It will be useful if you want not only a deeper understanding of current research and debates on internal displacement, conflict and protection but also if you wish to build key transferable skills in analysis and evaluation in the context of practical challenges. No prior knowledge or experience of work in the field of internal displacement is required – only a passion to learn.
Access the course HERE and join us as your tutors online,
- Professor David Cantor
- Dr Agnes Woolley